Poems (Odom)/Little Maggie
LITTLE MAGGIE.
My purest pearl, my baby girl, With laughing eyes of blue,With forehead fair, and curly hair Of golden brownish hue.
Your eyes to-night are clear and bright As stars upon the sea;While o'er your cheek red wavelets break And ripple rosily.
I love to see those smiles of glee Upon your baby lips;No grief nor care has settled there To shadow or eclipse.
Your dimpled feet, so fair and sweet, Upon life's threshold stand—Its fairest flowers and purest hours Now tremble in your hand.
With eager grasp your fingers clasp Life's ever-dipping oars;Oh, row with care, sweet baby fair, A woman's bark is yours!
Your hands so frail must guide your sail O'er waters high and wild,Whose smoothest sea will never be A placid one, my child.
Your soul will meet with storm and sleet, With tempests on your way;For clouds will rise in brightest skies, Cast anchor where you may.
O'er womanhood should sorrow brood To bow your woman's pride,Like stars at night, let hope's pure light Reflect upon the tide.
The darkest fate that dares await Your voyage to enshroud,Its power will lose if faith's bright hues Are arched upon the cloud.
Tho' smiles or tears may tinge your years, Shall light or quench their flame,My purest love will ever prove For you, my child, the same.
A mother's prayers, a mother's tears, Fresh from the heart and eye,Upon your curls, my pearl of pearls In benediction lie.
*******
Above her brow the willows now In solemn silence wave;In soft perfume the daisies bloom About her little grave.
Two years of love had smiled above My darling's golden head,When she was laid in gloom and shade Among the early dead.