Household Verses By Bernard Barton |
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TO
MY DAUGHTER ON HER BIRTH-DAY,
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 | Household Verses |  |
86
TO MY DAUGHTER ON HER BIRTH-DAY,
FALLING THIS YEAR ON THE SABBATH.
To celebrate thy natal day
I court no fabled Muse,
Nor seek to deck my simple lay
In fiction's borrowed hues.
I court no fabled Muse,
Nor seek to deck my simple lay
In fiction's borrowed hues.
On lighter themes such aid might well
Befit the poet's art,
Yet many a feeling fail to tell
Which thrills a father's heart.
Befit the poet's art,
Yet many a feeling fail to tell
Which thrills a father's heart.
Unto the day that gave thee birth
I pay the tribute due;
This hath its own peculiar worth,
Demanding homage too.
I pay the tribute due;
This hath its own peculiar worth,
Demanding homage too.
87
It is the sabbath of the Lord!
When, through our favoured isle,
The joyful tidings of His word
Fill many a hallowed pile.
When, through our favoured isle,
The joyful tidings of His word
Fill many a hallowed pile.
And hoary age, and blooming youth,
List to that blessed lore;
While some, in spirit and in truth,
May silently adore!
List to that blessed lore;
While some, in spirit and in truth,
May silently adore!
Thanksgiving, prayer, and praise should be
The offering of this day;
And such, my love, I breathe for thee
In this brief artless lay.
The offering of this day;
And such, my love, I breathe for thee
In this brief artless lay.
Oh! may the sabbath's blessing rest
On thee, with hallowing leaven;
Till thou shalt keep, among the blest,
An endless one—in heaven!
On thee, with hallowing leaven;
Till thou shalt keep, among the blest,
An endless one—in heaven!
| Household Verses | |