 | The Invisible Playmate |  |
65
THE INQUISITION
I woke at dead of night;
The room was still as death;
All in the dark I saw a sight
Which made me catch my breath.
The room was still as death;
All in the dark I saw a sight
Which made me catch my breath.
Although she slumbered near
The silence hung so deep
I leaned above her crib to hear
If it were death or sleep.
The silence hung so deep
I leaned above her crib to hear
If it were death or sleep.
As low—all quick—I leant,
Two large eyes thrust me back;
Dark eyes—too wise—which gazed intent;
Blue eyes transformed to black.
Two large eyes thrust me back;
Dark eyes—too wise—which gazed intent;
Blue eyes transformed to black.
Heavens! how those steadfast eyes
Their eerie vigil kept!
Was this some angel in disguise
Who searched us while we slept;
Their eerie vigil kept!
Was this some angel in disguise
Who searched us while we slept;
Who winnow'd every sin,
Who tracked each slip and fall,
One of God's spies—not Babbykin,
Not Babbykin at all?
Who tracked each slip and fall,
One of God's spies—not Babbykin,
Not Babbykin at all?
Day came with golden air;
She caught the beams and smiled,
No masked inquisitor was there,
Only a babbling child!
She caught the beams and smiled,
No masked inquisitor was there,
Only a babbling child!
| The Invisible Playmate | |