TWO LIVES IN ONE
Two babies sleeping on one cradle pillow,—
Two mothers watching near with tender care,
Planning, as mother love has skill for planning,
A future for their darlings, bright and fair.
Two mothers watching near with tender care,
Planning, as mother love has skill for planning,
A future for their darlings, bright and fair.
Two children playing where the sand lay whitest,—
Two little ones, with earnest, radiant eyes,
In whose clear depths, life with its changeful wonders
Seemed ever mirroring forth a new surprise.
Two little ones, with earnest, radiant eyes,
In whose clear depths, life with its changeful wonders
Seemed ever mirroring forth a new surprise.
Two school-mates, when the summer days are golden,—
When spring smiles flowers, or 'mid December's snow,
Each finding in the other's loving presence,
A sweeter lesson than their books can show.
When spring smiles flowers, or 'mid December's snow,
Each finding in the other's loving presence,
A sweeter lesson than their books can show.
In the fair moonlight, two, a youth and maiden,
With hands close-clasped, and hearts too full for speech,
Learning the hallowed joy of still communing
With the dear love that binds them each to each.
With hands close-clasped, and hearts too full for speech,
Learning the hallowed joy of still communing
With the dear love that binds them each to each.
Two lives in one,—when kneeling at the altar,—
A bridal chaplet 'mid her braids of brown,
The words are said, rounding to sweet completeness
The rich, glad hopes that came their lives to crown.
A bridal chaplet 'mid her braids of brown,
The words are said, rounding to sweet completeness
The rich, glad hopes that came their lives to crown.
Two lives in one,—his rich in manly courage,
Truth's heaven—sent courage,—strong to do and dare;
Hers, girt about with love's transcendent brightness,
And seeking goodness as a vesture fair.
Truth's heaven—sent courage,—strong to do and dare;
Hers, girt about with love's transcendent brightness,
And seeking goodness as a vesture fair.
Two lives in one,—together over cradles,
Together when some dear one's call is given;
Together ever,—one in joy and sorrow,
One life on earth, and still more one in Heaven.
Together when some dear one's call is given;
Together ever,—one in joy and sorrow,
One life on earth, and still more one in Heaven.
For, passed beyond the ken of human vision,
Their life of unity still scarce begun,
Eternity's long cycles shall behold them,
Ever still blending,—two lives merged in one.
Their life of unity still scarce begun,
Eternity's long cycles shall behold them,
Ever still blending,—two lives merged in one.