v
Was life so strange, so sad the sky,
So strait the wide world’s range,
He would not stay to wonder why
Was life so strange?
Was life so strange, so sad the sky,
So strait the wide world’s range,
He would not stay to wonder why
Was life so strange?
Was earth’s fair house a joyless grange
Beside that house on high
Whence Time that bore him failed to estrange?
Beside that house on high
Whence Time that bore him failed to estrange?
That here at once his soul put by
All gifts of time and change,
And left us heavier hearts to sigh
“Was life so strange?”
All gifts of time and change,
And left us heavier hearts to sigh
“Was life so strange?”
vi
Angel by name love called him, seeing so fair
The sweet small frame;
Meet to be called, if ever man’s child were,
Angel by name.
Angel by name love called him, seeing so fair
The sweet small frame;
Meet to be called, if ever man’s child were,
Angel by name.
Rose-bright and warm from heaven’s own heart he came,
And might not bear
The cloud that covers earth’s wan face with shame.
And might not bear
The cloud that covers earth’s wan face with shame.
His little light of life was all too rare
And soft a flame;
Heaven yearned for him till angels hailed him there
Angel by name.
And soft a flame;
Heaven yearned for him till angels hailed him there
Angel by name.
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