 | Verses of a life time |  |
218
CHILDREN AT PLAY.
Sport on; sport on;
A mother's thought, shadow of heavenly love
Dwells on you. In her home, mid household cares,
Kindle up hopes, which deep in its soft folds
Her inmost soul has wrapt. She musing asks,—
A mother's thought, shadow of heavenly love
Dwells on you. In her home, mid household cares,
Kindle up hopes, which deep in its soft folds
Her inmost soul has wrapt. She musing asks,—
“What his high fate, that boy with eagle eye,
And well-knit limbs, and proud impetuous thought?
A patriot, leading men, and breathing forth
His warm soul for his country? or a bard,
With holy song refining earth's cold ear?
A son, holding the torch of love to age
As its closed eye turns dimly to the grave?
Or husband wrapping with protecting arms,
One who leans on him in her trusting youth?”
And well-knit limbs, and proud impetuous thought?
A patriot, leading men, and breathing forth
His warm soul for his country? or a bard,
With holy song refining earth's cold ear?
A son, holding the torch of love to age
As its closed eye turns dimly to the grave?
Or husband wrapping with protecting arms,
One who leans on him in her trusting youth?”
“And for those girls,” she asks, “what gentle fate
Lies cradled on the softest down of time?
A rosy lot must garland out their years—
Those sunny eyes with laughing spirits wild,
Those rounded limbs are all unfit for want,
Or sterner care. Gently will they be borne
On beds of flowers beneath an azure sky.”
Lies cradled on the softest down of time?
A rosy lot must garland out their years—
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Those rounded limbs are all unfit for want,
Or sterner care. Gently will they be borne
On beds of flowers beneath an azure sky.”
O dreams, fair dreams! God's dower to woman's heart,
Your light and waving curtains still suspend
Before the future which lies dark behind.
Your light and waving curtains still suspend
Before the future which lies dark behind.
| Verses of a life time | |