 | The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings |  |
47
THE WATER-LILY
Up from the placid river,
One summer morning bright,
Came a merry boy to his mother,
With a water-lily white.
One summer morning bright,
Came a merry boy to his mother,
With a water-lily white.
Sweet as a breath of heaven,
Whiter than drifted snow;
The freshest, holiest flower
Among all flowers that blow.
Whiter than drifted snow;
The freshest, holiest flower
Among all flowers that blow.
And on her breast she laid it,
Wondering, it was so fair—
Up rose the pure rich perfume
Like an embodied prayer.
Wondering, it was so fair—
Up rose the pure rich perfume
Like an embodied prayer.
The boy forgot the flower;
And, later, from his play
Returning, warm and rosy,
Called his mother loud and gay.
And, later, from his play
Returning, warm and rosy,
Called his mother loud and gay.
And when she answered softly,
And her quiet work forsook,
He paused and gazed upon her
With an unaccustomed look.
And her quiet work forsook,
He paused and gazed upon her
With an unaccustomed look.
And over the delicate lily
He bowed his lovely head;
Then lifted his face and kissed her
With lips like strawberries red.
He bowed his lovely head;
Then lifted his face and kissed her
With lips like strawberries red.
And said, with his young face shining
Clear as a morning star;
“Sweet is the lily, mother,
But your kiss is sweeter far.”
Clear as a morning star;
“Sweet is the lily, mother,
But your kiss is sweeter far.”
| The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings | |