Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHILD LIFE, by MARY TUCKER LAMBERT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHILD LIFE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Like the cadence of an old love song
Last Line: Had flooded my room, and my soul with its light.
Alternate Author Name(s): Tucker, Mary Eliza Perine
Subject(s): Children; Childhood


LIKE the cadence of an old love song,
Borne on a zephyr's wings along,
Fading
and dying,
Then sounding again,
Touching the heart with its mournful strain,
Tearing my soul from its worldly strife,
Came a dream or vision of life, child-life.

Methought the heart of a child stood bare,
And I saw all human passions there,
Urging
and surging
Like waters grand,
Hurled by the mælstrom's mighty hand,
While the billows dashed with a sullen sound,
And scattered the foaming spray around.

'Twas a tiny seed in its embryo state,
Yet I saw there the germs of love and hate --
Loving
and hating!
Together they stood,
Strange that the evil should rest by the good!
Oh! would that to mortals was granted the meed
To cherish the flower, but pluck out the weed!

Faith, Hope and Charity, all were there,
Ambition, revenge, dark revenge, and despair,
Doubting
and wondering,
I touched a small sore,
And the heart of the child was enveloped in gore.
'Twas a slight disappointment that brought forth the blood,
For a sire's broken promise disturbed the deep flood.

Ah! I covered my eyes to shut out the sad sight,
For the face of the child was as dark as the night
Craving
and praying
That knowledge to find
A rest for the weary, a balm for the mind.
With Faith I looked up, and the child's face was fair;
Hope's flower had blossomed through blood and by prayer.

And as the dream-vision was passing away,
Through the deep silence reigning I heard a voice say,
Receive
and believe,
Thou, a mother of youth,
Oh! doubt not this vision, thou knowest its truth!
Thou knowest that virtues and passions are rife
In the beautiful morning of life, child-life.

Beware how thou touchest its heart cords wrong,
For the virtues are weak and the vices are strong.
Gently
and tenderly,
Wake the sweet strain,
Touch pleasure and peace, and no discord will reign.
Thou hast seen, oh my daughter, that each child of earth
Doth emulate manhood, yes, e'en at its birth.

Then deal with it lovingly, let the dream last,
When comes a deep sorrow, the child-life is past.
Softly
and sweetly --
Like light falling rain,
Then dying away as Æolian strain,
The dream-vision vanished,
I heard still the voice,
Group no longer in darkness, in thy knowledge rejoice.
I woke, and the sun newly born, grand and bright,
Had flooded my room, and my soul with its light.





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