Poems (Hale)/To a beautiful Child of five years

4571983Poems — To a beautiful Child of five yearsMary Whitwell Hale
TO A BEAUTIFUL CHILD OF FIVE YEARS.
Vision of beauty! that hast burst
Upon my gazing sight,
Breathing of grace and loveliness,
All life, and joy, and light;
Within that eye's deep tenderness,
And on that unstained brow,
I trace the fearless confidence
Which sorrow ne'er should bow.

Child of scarce five short years, thyself
Bright as those precious hours
When, Eden-like, the young year smiles
From out its fragrant bowers;
Thy Summer's radiant flowers are strewed
Along thy happy way;
And Hope, sweet childhood's brilliant sun,
Beams forth its cloudless ray.

Sorrow, as yet, upon thy brow
Its signet hath not pressed:
Thou like some spotless spirit art,
All blessing and all blessed.
Thy tears are nature's pearly dew
Which joy's bright sun dispels;
Thy smiles the gushing fount which from
Thy young heart's rapture swells.

Still through life's mazy pathway be
That heart thus free from guile;
As light and glad that bounding step;
As bright that beaming smile.
Still be the sunlight of thy glance
Fair with truth's heavenly ray;
And the rich promise of thy morn
Brighten to "perfect day."