 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
“THE CHILD OF THE MADONNA.”
Great wondering eyes and golden hair,
The orphan's quiet blessing;
Soft lips that part in silent prayer,
And crave for lips caressing.
The orphan's quiet blessing;
Soft lips that part in silent prayer,
And crave for lips caressing.
A face that mates with moonlit glooms,
Where blessèd shadows linger;
With lights that play on ancient tombs,
And touch with trembling finger.
Where blessèd shadows linger;
With lights that play on ancient tombs,
And touch with trembling finger.
A smile that haunts as holy airs,
It is so sad and solemn;
A brow that's carved with early cares,
Like tracery round a column.
It is so sad and solemn;
A brow that's carved with early cares,
Like tracery round a column.
A cheek with ever-shifting hues,
That tell-tale fancies dapple;
With now the glows of sunset dews,
And now the bloom of apple.
That tell-tale fancies dapple;
With now the glows of sunset dews,
And now the bloom of apple.
White dimpled hands that close in trust,
Like lily tendrils clinging;
That nestle round and nestle must,
And breed their faith in bringing.
Like lily tendrils clinging;
That nestle round and nestle must,
And breed their faith in bringing.
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Warm rippling veins that paint the throat,
With blue and wondrous windings;
An ear that seeks the truest note,
In all its tender findings.
With blue and wondrous windings;
An ear that seeks the truest note,
In all its tender findings.
A life that turns to love and bliss,
As blossoms to the morning;
That moves to music others miss,
Or steals a still adorning.
As blossoms to the morning;
That moves to music others miss,
Or steals a still adorning.
A voice which has a secret thrill,
With words that fall as kisses;
Which throbs with thoughts the visions fill,
From faint and far abysses.
With words that fall as kisses;
Which throbs with thoughts the visions fill,
From faint and far abysses.
A mouth that feeds on prayer and praise,
And wreathed with reverent chanting;
Or fondly rapt in sweet amaze,
For concords higher panting.
And wreathed with reverent chanting;
Or fondly rapt in sweet amaze,
For concords higher panting.
A shade of awe that broods at times,
With mild and mellowed shinings;
That saddens dreams it yet sublimes,
In troubled quaint refinings.
With mild and mellowed shinings;
That saddens dreams it yet sublimes,
In troubled quaint refinings.
A shapely head that loves to stoop,
Adoring as it listens;
Where leavings of the violet droop,
And straying glory glistens.
Adoring as it listens;
Where leavings of the violet droop,
And straying glory glistens.
A heart that dwells on summits dim,
And doats on waters pleasant;
While wander winds and vapours swim,
And more is felt than present.
And doats on waters pleasant;
While wander winds and vapours swim,
And more is felt than present.
A home of memories pure and bright,
Where snow-white doves are winging;
That's roofed with still and starry light,
And walled by solemn singing.
Where snow-white doves are winging;
That's roofed with still and starry light,
And walled by solemn singing.
A soul that nothing here can stay,
But sacred shrines of honour;
That worships all its loving way;
“The child of the Madonna.”
But sacred shrines of honour;
That worships all its loving way;
“The child of the Madonna.”
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |