Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PRODIGAL'S PLEA, by ALICE CARY


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PRODIGAL'S PLEA, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Shine down, little head, so fair
Last Line: Good enough for both, art thou!
Subject(s): Love


SHINE down, little head, so fair,
From thy window in the wall;
Oh, my slighted golden hair,
Like the sunshine round me fall --
Little head, so fair, so bright,
Fill my darkness with thy light!

Reach me down thy helping hand,
Little sweetheart, good and true;
Shamed, and self-condemned, I stand,
And wilt thou condemn me too?
Soilure of sin, be sure
Cannot harm thy hand so pure.

With thy quiet, calm my cry
Pleading to thee from afar.
Is it not enough that I
With myself should be at war?
With thy cleanness, cleanse my blood;
With thy goodness, make me good.

Eyes that loved me once, I pray,
Be not crueller than death;
Hide each sharp-edged glance away
Underneath its tender sheath!
Make me not, sweet eyes, with scorn
Mourn that ever I was born!

Oh, my roses! are ye dead;
That in love's delicious day,
Used to flower out ripe and red,
Fast as kisses plucked away?
Turn thy pale cheek, little wife;
Let me warm them back to life.

I have wandered, oh, so far!
From the way of truth and right;
Shine out for my guiding star,
Little head, so dear and bright;
Dust of sin is on my brow --
Good enough for both, art thou!





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