Poems (Tynan)/The Child's Call
THE CHILD'S CALL
He calls with quick, insistent cry,
He calls at work or play,
And I must put my business by,
And all my books away.
He calls at work or play,
And I must put my business by,
And all my books away.
He summons me from household cares
Back to his sunny room,
And up the stairs and up the stairs
In happy haste I come.
Back to his sunny room,
And up the stairs and up the stairs
In happy haste I come.
Sweeter than lark and mavis dear,
And nightingales in May,
The little voice so shrill and clear
That I must yet obey.
And nightingales in May,
The little voice so shrill and clear
That I must yet obey.
While up the stairs and to the door
My heart runs on in glee,
I hear a voice I knew of yore
That never calls for me.
My heart runs on in glee,
I hear a voice I knew of yore
That never calls for me.
Ever through shadow-time and sun
I hear a baby call,
That is not you, my precious one,
That is not you at all.
I hear a baby call,
That is not you, my precious one,
That is not you at all.
Afar, where heavenly waters flow
'Mid Paradisal calms,
All on a sward where lilies blow
The Shepherd counts his lambs.
'Mid Paradisal calms,
All on a sward where lilies blow
The Shepherd counts his lambs.
Afar, beyond the wintry cold
Upon the heavenly hill,
A little lamb a few weeks old
Bleats for his mother still.
Upon the heavenly hill,
A little lamb a few weeks old
Bleats for his mother still.
O mother's love and mother's joy!
But while I come in haste,
I hear another lovely boy
Cry from the lonely past.
But while I come in haste,
I hear another lovely boy
Cry from the lonely past.
And while I kiss your curls aside
And hold you to my breast,
I kiss the little boy that died,
That will not let me rest.
And hold you to my breast,
I kiss the little boy that died,
That will not let me rest.