Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CHILD READING THE BIBLE, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I saw him at his sport erewhile Last Line: Child-like, and therefore full of might! Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea Subject(s): Bible; Children; Childhood | ||||||||
I SAW him at his sport erewhile, The bright, exulting boy! Like summer's lightning came the smile Of his young spirit's joy -- A flash that, wheresoe'er it broke, To life undreamt-of beauty woke. His fair locks waved in sunny play, By a clear fountain's side, Where jewel-coloured pebbles lay Beneath the shallow tide; And pearly spray at times would meet The glancing of his fairy feet. He twined him wreaths of all spring-flowers, Which drank that streamlet's dew; He flung them o'er the wave in showers, Till, gazing, scarce I knew Which seemed more pure, or bright, or wild The singing fount or laughing child. To look on all that joy and bloom Made earth one festal scene, Where the dull shadow of the tomb Seemed as it ne'er had been. How could one image of decay Steal o'er the dawn of such clear day? I saw once more that aspect bright -- The boy's meek head was bowed In silence o'er the Book of Light, And, like a golden cloud -- The still cloud of a pictured sky -- His locks drooped round it lovingly. And if my heart had deemed him fair, When, in the fountain-glade, A creature of the sky and air, Almost on wings he played; Oh! how much holier beauty now Lit the young human being's brow! The being born to toil, to die, To break forth from the tomb Unto far nobler destiny Than waits the skylark's plume! I saw him, in that thoughtful hour, Win the first knowledge of his dower. The soul, the awakening soul I saw -- My watching eye could trace The shadows of its new-born awe Sweeping o'er that fair face: As o'er a flower might pass the shade By some dread angel's pinion made The soul, the mother of deep fears, Of high hopes infinite, Of glorious dreams, mysterious tears, Of sleepless inner sight; Lovely, but solemn, it arose, Unfolding what no more might close. The red-leaved tablets, undefiled, As yet, by evil thought -- Oh! little dreamed the brooding child Of what within m wrought, While his young heart first burned and stirred, And quivered to the eternal word. And reverently my spirit caught The reverence of his gaze -- A sight with dew of blessing fraught To hallow after-days; To make the proud heart meekly wise, By the sweet faith in those calm eyes. It seemed as if a temple rose Before me brightly there; And in the depths of its repose My soul o'erflowed with prayer, Feeling a solemn presence nigh -- The power of infant sanctity! O Father! mould my heart once more By thy prevailing breath! Teach me, oh! teach me to adore E'en with that pure one's faith -- A faith, all made of love and light, Child-like, and therefore full of might! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN CHILDREN SELECTING BOOKS IN A LIBRARY by RANDALL JARRELL COME TO THE STONE ... by RANDALL JARRELL THE LOST WORLD by RANDALL JARRELL A SICK CHILD by RANDALL JARRELL CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON THE DEATH OF FRIENDS IN CHILDHOOD by DONALD JUSTICE THE POET AT SEVEN by DONALD JUSTICE A DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS |
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