| |
| YOUR tiny picture makes me yearn; | |
| We are so far apart! | |
| My darling, I can only turn | |
| And kiss you in my heart. | |
| A thousand tender thoughts a-wing | 5 |
| Swarm in a summer clime, | |
| And hover round it murmuring | |
| Like bees at honey-time. | |
| |
| Upon a little girl I look | |
| Whose pureness makes me sad; | 10 |
| I read as in a holy book, | |
| I grow in secret glad. | |
| It seems my darling comes to me | |
| With something I have lost | |
| Over life’s toss’d and troubled sea, | 15 |
| On some celestial coast. | |
| |
| I think of her when spirit-bow’d; | |
| A glory fills the place! | |
| Like sudden light on swords, the proud | |
| Smile flashes in my face: | 20 |
| And others see, in passing by, | |
| But cannot understand | |
| The vision shining in mine eye, | |
| My strength of heart and hand. | |
| |
| That grave content and touching grace | 25 |
| Bring tears into mine eyes; | |
| She makes my heart a holy place | |
| Where hymns and incense rise. | |
| Such calm her gentle spirit brings | |
| As, smiling overhead, | 30 |
| White-statued saints with peaceful wings | |
| Shadow the sleeping dead. | |
| |
| Our Christie is no rosy Grace | |
| With beauty all may see, | |
| But I have never felt a face | 35 |
| Grow half so dear to me. | |
| No curling hair about her brows, | |
| Like many merry girls; | |
| Well, straighter to my heart it goes, | |
| And round it curls and curls. | 40 |
| |
| Meek as the wood anemone glints | |
| To see if heaven be blue, | |
| Is my pale flower with her sweet tints | |
| Of heaven shining through. | |
| She will be poor and never fret, | 45 |
| Sleep sound and lowly lie; | |
| Will live her quiet life, and let | |
| The great world-storm go by. | |
| |
| Dear love! God keep her in his grasp, | |
| Meek maiden, or brave wife, | 50 |
| Till his good angels softly clasp | |
| Her closed book of life! | |
| And this fair picture of the sun, | |
| With birthday blessings given, | |
| Shall fade before a glorious one | 55 |
| Taken of her in heaven. | |
| |
