Man alone before child (7)
I believe the answer is:
eremite
'man alone' is the definition.
(term for a hermit, someone living alone)
'before child' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (poetic term for 'before').
'child' becomes 'mite' (I've seen this before).
'ere'+'mite'='EREMITE'
(Other definitions for eremite that I've seen before include "desert father" , "Christian hermit or recluse" , "Religious person" , "Christian living in severe circumstances" , "Religious type" .)