The bells chime clear, Soon will the sun behind the hills sink down; Come, little Ann, your baby brother dear Lies in his christening-gown. His godparents Are all across the fields stepped on before, And wait beneath the crumbling monuments, This side the old church door. Your mammie dear Leans frail and lovely on your daddie's arm; Watching her chick, 'twixt happiness and fear, Lest he should come to harm. All to be blest Full soon in the clear heavenly water, he Sleeps on unwitting of't, his little breast Heaving so tenderly. I carried you, My little Ann, long since on this same quest, And from the painted windows a pale hue Lit golden on your breast; And then you woke, Chill as the holy water trickled down, And, weeping, cast the window a strange look, Half smile, half infant frown. I scarce could hear The skylarks singing in the green meadows, 'Twas summertide, and, budding far and near, The hedges thick with rose. And now you're grown A little girl; and this same helpless mite Is come like such another bud half-blown, Out of the wintry night. Time flies, time flies! And yet, bless me! 'tis little changed am I; May Jesu keep from tears those infant eyes, Be love their lullaby! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NEW YEAR'S DAWN - BROADWAY by SARA TEASDALE OH, SWEET CONTENT by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES DO YOU FEAR THE WIND? by HAMLIN GARLAND THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 52. WILLOWWOOD (4) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE CREMATION OF SAM MCGEE by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE EFFICIENCY by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS TWELVE SONNETS: 7. PERFECT UNION by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |