BRIGHT be the skies that cover thee, Child of the sunny brow -- Bright as the dream flung over thee -- By all that meets thee now -- Thy heart is beating joyously, Thy voice is like a bird's -- And sweetly breaks the melody Of thy imperfect words. I know no fount that gushes out As gladly as thy tiny shout. I would that thou might'st ever be As beautiful as now, -- That time might ever leave as free Thy yet unwritten brow: I would life were "all poetry" To gentle measure set, That nought but chasten'd melody Might stain thine eye of jet -- Nor one discordant note be spoken, Till God the cunning harp hath broken. I would -- but deeper things than these With woman's lot are wove: Wrought of intensest sympathies, And nerved by purest love -- By the strong spirit's discipline, By the fierce wrong forgiven, By all that wrings the heart of sin, Is woman won to heaven. "Her lot is on thee," lovely child -- God keep thy spirit undefiled! I fear thy gentle loveliness, Thy witching tone and air, Thine eye's beseeching earnestness May be to thee a snare. The silver stars may purely shine, The waters taintless flow -- But they who kneel at woman's shrine, Breathe on it as they bow -- Peace may fling back the gift again, But the crush'd flower will leave a stain. What shall preserve thee, beautiful child? Keep thee as thou art now? Bring thee, a spirit undefiled, At God's pure throne to bow? The world is but a broken reed, And life grows early dim -- Who shall be near thee in thy need, To lead thee up to Him? He, who himself was "undefiled?" With Him we trust thee, beautiful child! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE SOUR READER by ROBERT HERRICK THE JOURNEY ONWARDS by THOMAS MOORE AMORETTI: 34 by EDMUND SPENSER ANCESTRESS by MARGUERITE JANVRIN ADAMS CHILDREN OF LIGHT by BERNARD BARTON SS. SIMON & JUDE by JOSEPH BEAUMONT LOVE TRIUMPHANT, OR NATURE WILL PREVAIL: PROLOGUE by JOHN DRYDEN |