Page:Poems Blake.djvu/161

TO EDITH.

Darling little birthday maiden,
 Flower of autumn time,
With what dainty wishes laden
 Shall I weave my rhyme;
What of all the world has on it
 Seems most fair and dear
To gift the eyes that look upon it
 Wise with one short year?

Little one, life opens kindly,
 Full of light and fair,
Though you take it all so blindly,
 Sitting smiling there;
Not a mesh that love could sever
 Tangled round thy feet,—
Could we keep it so forever,—
 Hazel eyes, my sweet!

Who can tell how many changes
 Wait beside the way,
As life's onward pathway ranges
 Farther day by day;