Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, "ON MY OWN LITTLE DAUGHTER, FOUR YEARS OLD", by A LADY [PSEUD.]


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

"ON MY OWN LITTLE DAUGHTER, FOUR YEARS OLD", by                    
First Line: "sweet lovely infant, innocently gay"
Last Line: And teach her all she ought to hope or fear
Alternate Author Name(s): A Lady
Subject(s): Daughters


SWEET lovely infant, innocently gay,
With blooming face arrayed in peaceful smiles,
How light thy cheerful heart doth sportive play,
Unconscious of all future cares and toils.

With what delight I've seen thy little feet
Dancing with pleasure at my near approach!
Eager they ran my well-known form to meet,
Secure of welcome, fearless of reproach.

Then happy hast thou prattled in mine ear
Thy little anxious tales of pain or joy;
Thy fears lest faithful Tray thy frock should tear,
Thy pride when ladies give the gilded toy.

How oft, when sad reflection dimmed mine eye,
As memory recalled past scenes of woe,
Thy tender heart hath heaved the expressive sigh
Of sympathy, for ills thou could'st not know.

Oft too in silence I've admired that face,
Beaming with pity for a mother's grief,
Whilst in each anxious feature I could trace
Compassion eager to afford relief.

E'en now methinks I hear that artless tongue,
Lisping sweet sounds of comfort to mine ear:
'Oh! fret no more -- your Fanny is not gone --
She will not go -- don't cry -- your Fanny's here.'

If, ere her mind attains its full-grown strength,
Thy will consigns me to an early tomb,
If in Thy sight my thread's near run its length,
And called by Thee I cannot watch her bloom --

Oh heavenly Father, guard my infant child;
Protect her steps through this wide scene of care;
Within her breast implant each virtue mild,
And teach her all she ought to hope or fear.




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