 | The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings |  |
60
A VIOLET
I know a pair of clear gray eyes,
And sweet they are, and calm and wise.
And sweet they are, and calm and wise.
And when their still gaze rests on me,
The sky of dawn I seem to see;
The sky of dawn I seem to see;
The sky of dawn, without a bar,
Of mist to dim the morning star.
Of mist to dim the morning star.
And spring winds softly seem to blow,
And stir the crocus 'neath the snow:
And stir the crocus 'neath the snow:
And breathing sweeter, warmer yet,
They call the first shy violet;
They call the first shy violet;
And lo! within my hand it lies,
A fresh and beautiful surprise,
A fresh and beautiful surprise,
God's gift, more precious and more dear
Than all the flowers that crown the year.
Than all the flowers that crown the year.
The soul that looks from those dark eyes,
So brave and true, so pure and wise,
So brave and true, so pure and wise,
God keep it while the years endure,
Forever sweet, forever pure.
Forever sweet, forever pure.
Above all mists and vapors far,
Uplifted like the morning star.
Uplifted like the morning star.
A dauntless, deathless splendor, bright
With truth, and clear to all new sight!
With truth, and clear to all new sight!
| The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings | |