If I could stand, dear child of mine, Between the world and you, And keep your life untouched by sin, The sordid from your view; If I could make the world come close, Yet yield but precious truths, And keeping back the pain of life, Give only that which soothes; If I could keep your trust in men, Your faith in God and right, And all the things that bring unrest Put far beyond your sight; I wonder, child, if through the years -- 'Twould show my love, I know -- And yet I wonder from my heart, If you'd be happier so. There is a pain that purifies; Loss may be gain, I know; Each life must bear its own proud load, And reap what it shall sow. But standing by each hour, my child, My heart shall bleed anew, For every pain that comes to you Shall be to me as two! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TWO SONGS OF A FOOL: 2 by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE VICAR by WINTHROP MACKWORTH PRAED TIPPERARY: 2. AS THE TRANSLATORS WOULD HAVE INTERLINED IT . . . by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS THE GODODDIN: CONAN by ANEIRIN THE ANVIL OF SOULS by WILLIAM ROSE BENET THE BOSPHORUS REVISITED by SEYMOUR GREEN WHEELER BENJAMIN |