Oh, bless the law that veils the Future's face; For who could smile into a baby's eyes, Or bear the beauty of the evening skies, If he could see what cometh on apace? The ticking of the death-watch would replace The baby's prattle for the over-wise; The breeze's murmur would become the cries Of stormy petrels where the breakers race. We live as moves the walker in his sleep, Who walks because he sees not the abyss His feet are skirting as he goes his way: If we could see the morrow from the steep Of our security, the soul would miss Its footing, and fall headlong from to-day. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CRADLE SONG by WILLIAM BLAKE THE CHURCH WINDOWS by GEORGE HERBERT THE VICAR by WINTHROP MACKWORTH PRAED ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS: PART 1: 16. PERSUASION by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 18. AL-RAZZAK by EDWIN ARNOLD THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM by HENRY BEER THE CEREMONY OF THE PRINTER'S APPRENTICE; A GERMAN MORALITY PLAY by WILLAM BLADES THE WANDERER: 5. IN HOLLAND: MACROMICROS by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |