Their pilgrimage’s period
A few swift moons have seen complete
Since mother’s hands first clasped and shod
The little feet.
A few swift moons have seen complete
Since mother’s hands first clasped and shod
The little feet.
iii
The little hands that never sought
Earth’s prizes, worthless all as sands,
What gift has death, God’s servant, brought
The little hands?
The little hands that never sought
Earth’s prizes, worthless all as sands,
What gift has death, God’s servant, brought
The little hands?
We ask: but love’s self silent stands,
Love, that lends eyes and wings to thought
To search where death’s dim heaven expands.
Love, that lends eyes and wings to thought
To search where death’s dim heaven expands.
Ere this, perchance, though love know nought,
Flowers fill them, grown in lovelier lands,
Where hands of guiding angels caught
The little hands.
Flowers fill them, grown in lovelier lands,
Where hands of guiding angels caught
The little hands.
iv
The little eyes that never knew
Light other than of dawning skies,
What new life now lights up anew
The little eyes?
The little eyes that never knew
Light other than of dawning skies,
What new life now lights up anew
The little eyes?
Who knows but on their sleep may rise
Such light as never heaven let through
To lighten earth from Paradise?
Such light as never heaven let through
To lighten earth from Paradise?
No storm, we know, may change the blue
Soft heaven that haply death descries;
No tears, like these in ours, bedew
The little eyes.
Soft heaven that haply death descries;
No tears, like these in ours, bedew
The little eyes.
21
