Poems By Richard Chenevix Trench: New ed |
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24
TO---
ON THE DAY OF HER BAPTISM
This will we name thy better birth-day, child,
Oh born already to a sin-worn world,
But now unto a kingdom undefiled,
Where over thee love's banner is unfurled.
Oh born already to a sin-worn world,
But now unto a kingdom undefiled,
Where over thee love's banner is unfurled.
Lo! on the morning of this holy day
I lay aside the weight of human fears,
Which I had for thee, and without dismay
Look through the avenue of coming years:
I lay aside the weight of human fears,
Which I had for thee, and without dismay
Look through the avenue of coming years:
I see thee passing without mortal harm
Through ranks of foes against thy safety met;
I see thee passing, thy defence and charm,
The seal of God upon thy forehead set.
Through ranks of foes against thy safety met;
I see thee passing, thy defence and charm,
The seal of God upon thy forehead set.
From this time forth thou often shalt hear say
Of what immortal City thou wert given
The rights and full immunities to-day,
And of the hope laid up for thee in heaven:
Of what immortal City thou wert given
The rights and full immunities to-day,
And of the hope laid up for thee in heaven:
From this time forward thou shalt not believe
That thou art earthly, or that aught of earth
Or aught that hell can threaten, shall receive
Power on the children of the second birth.
That thou art earthly, or that aught of earth
Or aught that hell can threaten, shall receive
Power on the children of the second birth.
25
Oh risen out of death into the day
Of an immortal life, we bid thee hail,
And will not kiss the waterdrops away,
The dew that rests upon thy forehead pale.
Of an immortal life, we bid thee hail,
And will not kiss the waterdrops away,
The dew that rests upon thy forehead pale.
And if the seed of better life lie long,
As in a wintry hiddenness and death,
Then calling back this day, we will be strong
To wait in hope for heaven's reviving breath;
As in a wintry hiddenness and death,
Then calling back this day, we will be strong
To wait in hope for heaven's reviving breath;
To water, if there should be such sad need,
The undiscernëd germ with sorrowing tears,
To wait until from that undying seed
Out of the earth a heavenly plant appears;
The undiscernëd germ with sorrowing tears,
To wait until from that undying seed
Out of the earth a heavenly plant appears;
The growth and produce of a fairer land,
And thence transplanted to a barren soil,
It needs the tendance of a careful hand,
Of love, that is not weary with long toil:
And thence transplanted to a barren soil,
It needs the tendance of a careful hand,
Of love, that is not weary with long toil:
And thou, dear child, whose very helplessness
Is as a bond upon us and a claim,
Mayest thou have this of us, as we no less
Have daily from our Father known the same.
Is as a bond upon us and a claim,
Mayest thou have this of us, as we no less
Have daily from our Father known the same.
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