 | Passion-Flowers |  |
103
A CHILD'S EXCUSE.
If that I lay my hand upon thine arm,
Detaining thee, be not impatient, friend!
'Tis that thou journeyest, bearing regal gifts,
And I, a beggar, bid thee stand and lend.
Detaining thee, be not impatient, friend!
'Tis that thou journeyest, bearing regal gifts,
And I, a beggar, bid thee stand and lend.
Half for myself I ask thy thoughts of thee,
And holy words, that quicken and reprove;
Half that my grateful soul may render back
The seed of wisdom in the growth of love.
And holy words, that quicken and reprove;
Half that my grateful soul may render back
The seed of wisdom in the growth of love.
Why thou canst give, and I receive, a boon
So blest and blessing, 'tis not mine to tell:
Thou art a free-born creature—light and air
From thee the dungeon-glooms of Life dispel.
So blest and blessing, 'tis not mine to tell:
Thou art a free-born creature—light and air
From thee the dungeon-glooms of Life dispel.
104
That heavenly Art has formed thee thus, I thank
Goodness and Wisdom endless—that to me
Thou art a herald of delight and hope,
I feel deep joy in thanking only thee.
Goodness and Wisdom endless—that to me
Thou art a herald of delight and hope,
I feel deep joy in thanking only thee.
I am but wearing out my feeble hours—
Linger thou long in Manhood's golden prime!
I pass, Life's bankrupt, to eternity;
Stay thou to reap th' inheritance of Time.
Linger thou long in Manhood's golden prime!
I pass, Life's bankrupt, to eternity;
Stay thou to reap th' inheritance of Time.
But even as now my spirit rises up,
And, bounding, brings its welcome to thine heart,
Thus, when thou, too, shalt cross the icy stream,
I shall feel heavenly virtue where thou art.
And, bounding, brings its welcome to thine heart,
Thus, when thou, too, shalt cross the icy stream,
I shall feel heavenly virtue where thou art.
And if the lowliest tenant I may be
Of the high precincts of an angel's home,
My mates, some day, shall mark a sudden joy
Transfigure one who cries: ‘My brother's come!’
Of the high precincts of an angel's home,
My mates, some day, shall mark a sudden joy
Transfigure one who cries: ‘My brother's come!’
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