The Blue Bird (Custance)/The Child

by Olive Custance

For works with similar titles, see The Child.

THE CHILD

Bright sky above the dreaming girl,
Purple and pearl . . . mother-o'-pearl . . .
A rose in heaven, the sunset glows
Behind her flushed and happy face;
O golden rose, and wild pink rose!

What does she see? The gold light trace
Frail shadows delicate as lace,
Of clustered leaves that wing to wing,
Flitting never, yet climb so high . . .
Little green butterflies of Spring!

Over her head the darkening sky . . .
What has she done in the hours gone by?
Builded castles in Wonderland,
Silver castles across the sea . . .
And danced with fairies hand in hand!

The world is for her a mystery . . .
Child princess of the prince to be . .
(The rose has faded out of the sky)
Ride swift, fair prince, by Love's sweet grace,
To win the wild rose of her face
Before it too shall fade and die.