Poems (Truesdell)/A Prayer for my Sister

by Helen Truesdell

A PRAYER FOR MY SISTER.

May no dark sorrow ever fling
 Its shadows round thy path,
But all things lovely, all things fair,
 Be thine in life and death!

It was evening, gentle evening,
 "Twilight dews were falling fast;"
Day, with all its radiant splendor,
 Like a brilliant dream had passed:

I sat musing, sadly musing,
 On this weary world of ours,—
"True," I said, "life has its pleasures,
 Sometimes thorns, and sometimes flowers

"But the thorns I've always gathered,
 For they in my pathway lay,—
Shunning never the few flowers
 That were scattered by the way."

As I thus sat sadly musing,
 Thy sweet voice fell on mine ear,
Ringing out so glad and joyous,
 Bird-like, musical and clear.

"Thou art happy, dearest sister,"
 Thus I murmured sad and low,—
"May no darkling shadow ever
 Dim thy pathway here below;

"But like yonder flowing river,
 Like that fair and silvery stream,
May thy life glide sweetly onward,
 Happy as a poet's dream—

"Like that far-off land of sculpture.
 That sweet sunny, southern clime,
Where 'tis always smiling summer,
 Never chilly winter time!"

This the prayer, O dearest sister!
 This the prayer I breathe for thee,
That thy life be ever happy,
 In time and in eternity!