 | The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey |  |
188
THE WARNING.
There's bloom upon the lady's cheek,
There's brightness in her eye:
Who says the sentence is gone forth
That that fair thing must die?—
There's brightness in her eye:
Who says the sentence is gone forth
That that fair thing must die?—
Must die before the flowering lime,
Out yonder, sheds its leaf:
Can this thing be, O human flower!
Thy blossoming so brief?
Out yonder, sheds its leaf:
Can this thing be, O human flower!
Thy blossoming so brief?
Nay, nay: 'tis but a passing cloud;
Thou dost but droop awhile:
There's life (long years), and love, and joy
(Whole ages), in that smile—
Thou dost but droop awhile:
There's life (long years), and love, and joy
(Whole ages), in that smile—
In the gay call that to thy knee
Brings quick that loving child,
Who looks up in those laughing eyes,
With his large eyes so mild.
Brings quick that loving child,
Who looks up in those laughing eyes,
With his large eyes so mild.
Yet thou art doomed—art dying. All
The coming hour foresee,
But, in love's cowardice, withhold
The warning word from thee.
The coming hour foresee,
But, in love's cowardice, withhold
The warning word from thee.
God help thee, and be merciful!
His strength is with the weak;
Through babes and sucklings the Most High
Hath oft vouchsafed to speak,
His strength is with the weak;
Through babes and sucklings the Most High
Hath oft vouchsafed to speak,
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And speaketh now:—“O Mother, dear!”
Whispers the little child—
And there is trouble in his eyes,
Those large blue eyes so mild—
Whispers the little child—
And there is trouble in his eyes,
Those large blue eyes so mild—
“O Mother, dear! they say that soon,
When here I seek for thee,
I shall not find thee; nor out there
Under the old oak tree;
When here I seek for thee,
I shall not find thee; nor out there
Under the old oak tree;
“Nor upstairs in the nursery;
Nor anywhere, they say.
Where wilt thou go to, Mother, dear?
Oh, do not go away!”
Nor anywhere, they say.
Where wilt thou go to, Mother, dear?
Oh, do not go away!”
There was deep silence—a long hush—
And then the child's low sob;
Her quivering eyelids close, one hand
Holds down the heart's quick throb,
And then the child's low sob;
Her quivering eyelids close, one hand
Holds down the heart's quick throb,
And the lips move, though sound is none:
That inward voice is prayer;
And hark!—“Thy will, O Lord! be done.”
And tears are trickling there,
That inward voice is prayer;
And hark!—“Thy will, O Lord! be done.”
And tears are trickling there,
Down that fair cheek, on that young head,
And round her neck he clings;
And child and mother murmur out
Unutterable things:
And round her neck he clings;
And child and mother murmur out
Unutterable things:
He half unconscious—she heart-struck
With sudden, solemn truth,
That numbered are her days on earth,
Her shroud prepared in youth;
With sudden, solemn truth,
That numbered are her days on earth,
Her shroud prepared in youth;
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That all in life her heart holds dear
God calls her to resign.
She hears—feels—trembles—but looks up,
And sighs—“Thy will be mine!”
God calls her to resign.
She hears—feels—trembles—but looks up,
And sighs—“Thy will be mine!”
| The Poetical Works of Caroline Bowles Southey | |