 | The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley |  |
1607
“THIS DEAR CHILD-HEARTED WOMAN THAT IS DEAD”
I
This woman, with the dear child-heart,
Ye mourn as dead, is—where and what?
With faith as artless as her Art,
I question not,—
Ye mourn as dead, is—where and what?
With faith as artless as her Art,
I question not,—
But dare divine, and feel, and know
Her blessedness—as hath been writ
In allegory.—Even so
I fashion it:—
Her blessedness—as hath been writ
In allegory.—Even so
I fashion it:—
II
A stately figure, rapt and awed
In her new guise of Angelhood,
Still lingered, wistful—knowing God
Was very good.—
In her new guise of Angelhood,
Still lingered, wistful—knowing God
Was very good.—
Her thought's fine whisper filled the pause;
And, listening, the Master smiled,
And lo! the stately angel was
—A little child.
And, listening, the Master smiled,
And lo! the stately angel was
—A little child.
| The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley | |