The Reliquary By Bernard and Lucy Barton. With A Prefatory Appeal for Poetry and Poets |
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| II. |
TO MY DAUGHTER.
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 | The Reliquary |  |
174
TO MY DAUGHTER.
IN THE FIRST LEAF OF A VOLUME OF “POEMS.”
I hope not by these pages
To bid my humble name
Survive to distant ages,
Enwreath'd by minstrel fame.
To bid my humble name
Survive to distant ages,
Enwreath'd by minstrel fame.
That prouder expectation
May loftier bards inspire;
A lowlier aspiration
Awaits my simple lyre.
May loftier bards inspire;
A lowlier aspiration
Awaits my simple lyre.
Enough, if it shall give me,
At memory's sweetest shrine,
Thoughts, feelings, which outlive me
In hearts belov'd, like thine.
At memory's sweetest shrine,
Thoughts, feelings, which outlive me
In hearts belov'd, like thine.
The wreath that crowns a poet
May work a transient thrill;
But who would not forego it
For something sweeter still.
May work a transient thrill;
But who would not forego it
For something sweeter still.
175
Far purer joy is blended
With many a look and smile,
Than e'er from fame most splendid
The bosom can beguile.
With many a look and smile,
Than e'er from fame most splendid
The bosom can beguile.
Oh! such, at times, have lighten'd
Like sunshine o'er my way,
And by their influence brighten'd
Thy father's darkest day.
Like sunshine o'er my way,
And by their influence brighten'd
Thy father's darkest day.
I have no
Foes, to set them
As beacons in thy sight;
And if I had, “Forget them!”
Is all that I would write.
As beacons in thy sight;
And if I had, “Forget them!”
Is all that I would write.
But well my
Friends thou knowest,
And blessings rest on thee
As gratitude thou showest
For kindness shown to me.
And blessings rest on thee
As gratitude thou showest
For kindness shown to me.
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