THE Young-ones gathered in from hill and dale, With holiday delight on every brow: 'Tis passed away; far other thoughts prevail; For they are taking the baptismal Vow Upon their conscious selves; their own lips speak The solemn promise. Strongest sinews fail, And many a blooming, many a lovely, cheek Under the holy fear of God turns pale; While on each head his lawn-robed Servant lays An apostolic hand, and with prayer seals The Covenant. The Omnipotent will raise Their feeble Souls; and bear with 'his' regrets, Who, looking round the fair assemblage, feels That ere the Sun goes down their childhood sets. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TROY PARK: 1. THE WARMTH OF SPRING by EDITH SITWELL THE OLD SQUIRE by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT LEARNING TO READ by FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER HOPEFULLY WAITING by ANSON DAVIES FITZ RANDOLPH THE OLD MAN AND JIM by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 71. THE CHOICE (1) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI |