GOD thought of sleep, so that He might Cradle His Man in the cool night With more than mother's love, and hold Warm to His breast the child of old. Poor Man, that is so proud and high, Yet he must fall asleep and lie Open to all the winds and harms, Unless God rocks him in His arms. Poor Man, though all besmirched, shall keep Yet the last innocence of sleep, And like a child must lie alone, Defenceless, harmless, overthrown. God's gentleness with sinners see! In sleep they will not disagree Nor hurt as only lovers can; They are at one, God and His Man. Tenderly night shall find him, held To a kind breast, who late rebelled; New-reconciled with kisses he Shall slumber on a mighty knee. Man's but a toddling child, stripped bare Of all the countless years that were; Little and low: God's art to keep A youngling thing in His arms asleep. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CHURCH-PORCH by GEORGE HERBERT ON A PIECE OF TAPESTRY by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE HIGH TIDE AT GETTYSBURG [JULY 3, 1863] by WILL HENRY THOMPSON QUATRAIN: FROM EASTERN SOURCES: 2 by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH A TOMB BY THE SEA by ASCLEPIADES OF SAMOS A SONNET. ON THE PICTURE OF CAVALIER GUARINI PAINTED BY BORGIANNI by PHILIP AYRES |