Poems (Edwards)/A Sketch of Annie

by Matilda Caroline Smiley Edwards

A SKETCH OF ANNIE.

She is a thing of joy and mirth,
The beauty of unconscious worth
Hangs o'er her like a golden spell,
And mantles all her faults so well,
That even were she vain and proud,,
As some in envy have avowed,
One look upon her features gay,
Would chase such evil thoughts away.

She's like a bird in summer time,
That gladdens nature with its chime,
Her merry tones, now soft, now high,
Now like a zephyr floating by;
And when her song falls on your ear,
You think of an embodied sphere,
Sent down on wings of light and love,
To sing as angels sing above.

Upon her young expressive face,
There is a world of truth and grace,
And in her blue and sunny eyes
An ocean of affection lies,
Deep, pure, and still, like stars at night,
They sparkle with unearthly light,
And from her lips such kind words fall,
As bring a joy to gladden all.

Oh! she is good, and pure, and kind,
With manners gentle and refined,
With such a sweet and earnest face,
So full of tenderness and grace,
Now like a sunbeam, now a shade,
So merry, and withal so staid;—
Such is our darling little Nan,
Now match her, ladies, if you can.