WERE I a happy bird, Building my little nest each early spring, It might be easy then to keep God's word, His praise to sing; Easy to live content, Tending my little ones, --of love secure, Knowing no agony for time misspent, Or thought impure! Were I a butterfly, A bright-winged creature of the sunshine born, Idle and lovely I could live and die Without self-scorn; I need not fear To take my utmost will of summer sweet; Nor dread, when the swift end came near, My Judge to meet! If I were only made Patient, and calm, and pure, as angels are, I had not been so doubtful, -- sore afraid Of sin and care; It would seem sweet and good To bear the heavy cross that martyrs take, The passion and the pain of womanhood For my Lord's sake. But strong, and fair, and young, I dread my glowing limbs, -- my heart of fire, My soul that trembles like a harp full strung To keen desire! O, wild and idle words! Will God's large charity and patience be Given unto butterflies and singing birds, And not to me? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 21. 'TIS CONSTANCY THAT GAINS THE PRIZE by PHILIP AYRES WHERE THE DEAD MEN LIE by BARCROFT HENRY BOAKE THE DROWNED BOY by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD THE SAILING LIST by BERTON BRALEY THE GLORY OF GRAY by CHRISTINE F. BRONSON TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 2. I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE WOODS by EDWARD CARPENTER |