Poems (Hale)/To a beautiful Child of five years
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 hoursWhen, 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."