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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TO MARY by MAURETTE CHRISTOPHER

First Line: UPON MY KNEES MY LITTLE BABY LIES
Last Line: HOW DEAR HIS HANDS AND TINY WRINKLED FEET!
Subject(s): BABIES; FACES; JESUS CHRIST; INFANTS;

Upon my knees my little baby lies
And smiles back at the smile within my eyes;

And when I catch his sweet, soft face to me
I wonder had you greater ecstasy.

I've garments fashioned with especial care
Which hope alone had made for him to wear.

But could long years roll back and could I go
To that small manger where you lay so low

There would be nothing in my baby's hoard
That I could offer to an infant Lord.

Perhaps no hint there would reach out to me
To tell your mission, that the Christ was He;

And I'd just wait on you with tenderest care,
I'd stroke your face and your bright shining hair;

And that small Babe, because my own's so sweet
How dear His hands and tiny wrinkled feet!



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