 | Verses by W. H. Mallock |  |
31
TO A CHILD
O dainty figure, floating hair,
O small face, turn and let me see!
Turn, Irma, turn! A child like you
Has always charm for me.
O small face, turn and let me see!
Turn, Irma, turn! A child like you
Has always charm for me.
O sad as death, and soft as love,
What's this that I in you behold?
All life seems gazing from the eyes—
The eyes of eight years old.
What's this that I in you behold?
All life seems gazing from the eyes—
The eyes of eight years old.
All life! Why, child, what's life to you?
Your dog, your doll—a toy, a pet—
These are its joys:—and, for its griefs,
They're things as small. And yet,
Your dog, your doll—a toy, a pet—
These are its joys:—and, for its griefs,
They're things as small. And yet,
32
Between your eyelids swims the look
That says, ‘My faith in prayer is o'er.’
Your mouth seems quivering to the lost,
‘Kiss me that kiss once more!’
That says, ‘My faith in prayer is o'er.’
Your mouth seems quivering to the lost,
‘Kiss me that kiss once more!’
Is this a fancy, do you think?
Merely an idle fancy? Nay,
Your face but says before its time
What soon your heart will say.
Merely an idle fancy? Nay,
Your face but says before its time
What soon your heart will say.
That look was moulded in the past,
Before your father's days began;
And means what life will mean for you,
And long has meant for man.
Before your father's days began;
And means what life will mean for you,
And long has meant for man.
Those clear young eyes before they fade
Shall scan their past, and read ‘In vain.’
Irma, I see the stainless cheek
Where life shall write a stain.
Shall scan their past, and read ‘In vain.’
Irma, I see the stainless cheek
Where life shall write a stain.
But ah! I see the fire which first
Shall cast its soft disguise divine
O'er earth and heaven; and envy those
For whom your eyes will shine.
Shall cast its soft disguise divine
O'er earth and heaven; and envy those
For whom your eyes will shine.
33
Whose pulses shall be stirred by yours,
And who, on the wet sands of youth,
Shall found that house of faiths and hopes
Which poets dream is truth.
And who, on the wet sands of youth,
Shall found that house of faiths and hopes
Which poets dream is truth.
O happy dream, and happy they
Who dream it one by one with you!
Ah! by your aid might I once more
Dream, and believe it true;
Who dream it one by one with you!
Ah! by your aid might I once more
Dream, and believe it true;
Before once more I wake, as you
And I, and all, must wake to feel
Their fair dreams broken one by one
On Time's relentless wheel.
And I, and all, must wake to feel
Their fair dreams broken one by one
On Time's relentless wheel.
For love builds up, and life destroys;
But well—however this may be,
Irma, ere love shall live for you
He will be dead for me.
But well—however this may be,
Irma, ere love shall live for you
He will be dead for me.
| Verses by W. H. Mallock | |