Poems (Dodd)/On the death of a Child
ON THE DEATH OF A CHILD.
When the dark shades of night had passed away, And morning robed the earth in colors bright,Close to a rose's fragrant heart there lay, A dew-drop glittering in the early light.
Lovely the flower upon its pensile stem, Wayving so softly in the summer air,And beautiful the round, pellucid gem, As a crown-jewel on a forehead fair.
But, while I looked, the fast advancing sun, Poured round the rose a flood of golden light,With fervent eye its beauty gazed upon, Then kissed the dew and bore it from my sight.
The lonely rose for its heart-treasure mourned, And low it drooped beneath the sultry noon;Then from its silent grief aside I turned, And sighed that things so fair should fade so soon.
There came a shower, a sweet refreshing shower, The liquid pearls with colored sunbeams met,And the meek eyes of that uplifted flower, Saw its own dew-drop in a rainbow set.
Mother, thy child was like the morning dew: As pure, and fair, and with a life as brief;Closed are its eyes of evening's softest blue, Its cheek is paler than a damask leaf.
And thou mayest weep, young mother, for thy child; Thy loved, thine only one, so early lost;Gone to her God with spirit undefiled, And heart by sin, or passion, never crossed.
Weep, but not bitterly, and let thy' grief By a firm faith be softened and subdued;Turn unto Him who chastened for relief, And onward press with hope and strength renewed.
Look upward to the clime beyond the skies, And the lost gem for which thy tears are given,Again shall greet thy sad and longing eyes, Re-set among the jewelry of heaven.