Page:Poems Welby.djvu/29

LINES WRITTEN ON SEEING AN INFANT SLEEPING ON ITS MOTHER'S BOSOM.

It lay upon its mother's breast, a thing
 Bright as a dew-drop when it first descends,
Or as the plumage of an angel's wing
 Where every tint of rainbow beauty blends;
It had soft violet eyes, that, 'neath each lid
 Half-closed upon them, like bright waters shone;
While its small dimpled hands were slily hid
 In the warm bosom that it nestled on.

There was a beam in that young mother's eye,
 Lit by the feelings that she could not speak,
As from her lips a plaintive lullaby
 Stirred the bright tresses on her infant's cheek;
While now and then, with melting heart, she prest
 Soft kisses on its red and smiling lips,
Lips, sweet as rose-buds in fresh beauty drest
 Ere the young murmuring bee their honey sips.

It was a fragrant eve, the sky was full
 Of burning stars, that, tremulously clear,
Shone on those lovely ones, while the low lull
 Of falling waters fell upon the ear;