 | The sentence of Kaires and other poems |  |
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XLVI. TO MY LITTLE BROTHER ON HIS FOURTH BIRTHDAY, Sept. 30, 1847.
O I love to gaze on thy face so fair,
And the sunny locks of thy flowing hair,
And to read the joyous spell that lies
In the flashing glance of those dark bright eyes.
And the sunny locks of thy flowing hair,
And to read the joyous spell that lies
In the flashing glance of those dark bright eyes.
'Tis true, that young and lovely face,
It smiles with all but angel's grace;
O may it smile for evermore
Where angels tread the eternal shore!
It smiles with all but angel's grace;
O may it smile for evermore
Where angels tread the eternal shore!
But thou art wayward, wild, and young;
Thy faith is weak, and the world is strong;
O ne'er may her fond wiles have power
To lure thee in temptation's hour!
Thy faith is weak, and the world is strong;
O ne'er may her fond wiles have power
To lure thee in temptation's hour!
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O by that sign the devils know,
Traced on thy once guileless brow,
O by my love, my prayers, my tears,
Fond hopes and agonizing fears,
Traced on thy once guileless brow,
O by my love, my prayers, my tears,
Fond hopes and agonizing fears,
Let no earth-stain of sin defile
The freshness of thine infant smile;
Still on thy brow the cross be bright,
Unmarred thy chrisom's spotless white.
The freshness of thine infant smile;
Still on thy brow the cross be bright,
Unmarred thy chrisom's spotless white.
Bright be thy boyhood, blest thy youth,
Nursed in the ways of holiest truth,
Thine be the draught of innocent joy,
The purer, sure, the last to cloy.
Nursed in the ways of holiest truth,
Thine be the draught of innocent joy,
The purer, sure, the last to cloy.
Dearest! though threatening skies may lower,
Though tear-bedimmed each fairest flower,
Though blighted every joy of earth,
Though hushed each sound of ruder mirth,
Though tear-bedimmed each fairest flower,
Though blighted every joy of earth,
Though hushed each sound of ruder mirth,
Yet One, thou knowest, is ever near,
His thought thy saddest hour may cheer,
His smile the darkest clouds illume,
His love dispel grief's sullen gloom.
His thought thy saddest hour may cheer,
His smile the darkest clouds illume,
His love dispel grief's sullen gloom.
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And oh, if aught avail above
The vows of pure fraternal love,
Ne'er will I cease on bended knee
To pour a deep heart-prayer for thee.
The vows of pure fraternal love,
Ne'er will I cease on bended knee
To pour a deep heart-prayer for thee.
| The sentence of Kaires and other poems | |