 | The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings |  |
71
TO A CHILD WITH EASTER LILIES
Child, with the lily branch so white,
Held aloft in a rosy hand,
Soft is the path to thy footfalls light,
Lovely the sky o'er thy morning land.
Held aloft in a rosy hand,
Soft is the path to thy footfalls light,
Lovely the sky o'er thy morning land.
Thou gazest into the perfumed snow
And the golden heart of the wondrous flower,
And while the breezes of morning blow,
Thou canst not dream of a darker hour.
And the golden heart of the wondrous flower,
And while the breezes of morning blow,
Thou canst not dream of a darker hour.
Ah, beloved, when by and by,
Noon burns hot o'er the dusty way,
And the wind that sang can only sigh,—
When the rose of dawn turns ashes-gray;
Noon burns hot o'er the dusty way,
And the wind that sang can only sigh,—
When the rose of dawn turns ashes-gray;
While through shadows thy footsteps grope,
If then thy lilies do but keep,
Their beauty shall bring thee strength and hope,
Rest and refreshment glad and deep.
If then thy lilies do but keep,
Their beauty shall bring thee strength and hope,
Rest and refreshment glad and deep.
And thou shalt know how fair a gift
Are the pure white fragrant flowers of God;
Their perfume shall thy heart uplift,
And lead thee back where thy childhood trod;
Are the pure white fragrant flowers of God;
Their perfume shall thy heart uplift,
And lead thee back where thy childhood trod;
Till thou shalt see with self-same eyes
Of the happy baby of long ago,
The shining meadows of Paradise
Before thee blossom and smile and glow.
Of the happy baby of long ago,
The shining meadows of Paradise
Before thee blossom and smile and glow.
And find thy peace, thy joy, thy faith,
A sunny calm after weary strife,
While the radiant angel whose name is Death
Leads thee safe into endless life.
A sunny calm after weary strife,
While the radiant angel whose name is Death
Leads thee safe into endless life.
| The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings | |