The Blue Bird (Custance)/The Child
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 glowsBehind her flushed and happy face;O golden rose, and wild pink rose!
What does she see? The gold light traceFrail 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 faceBefore it too shall fade and die.