Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO LAURA [W.], TWO YEARS OF AGE by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS

First Line: BRIGHT BE THE SKIES THAT COVER THEE
Last Line: WITH HIM WE TRUST THEE, BEAUTIFUL CHILD!
BRIGHT be the skies that cover thee,
Child of the sunny brow --
Bright as the dream flung over thee --
By all that meets thee now --
Thy heart is beating joyously,
Thy voice is like a bird's --
And sweetly breaks the melody
Of thy imperfect words.
I know no fount that gushes out
As gladly as thy tiny shout.

I would that thou might'st ever be
As beautiful as now, --
That time might ever leave as free
Thy yet unwritten brow:
I would life were "all poetry"
To gentle measure set,
That nought but chasten'd melody
Might stain thine eye of jet --
Nor one discordant note be spoken,
Till God the cunning harp hath broken.

I would -- but deeper things than these
With woman's lot are wove:
Wrought of intensest sympathies,
And nerved by purest love --
By the strong spirit's discipline,
By the fierce wrong forgiven,
By all that wrings the heart of sin,
Is woman won to heaven.
"Her lot is on thee," lovely child --
God keep thy spirit undefiled!

I fear thy gentle loveliness,
Thy witching tone and air,
Thine eye's beseeching earnestness
May be to thee a snare.
The silver stars may purely shine,
The waters taintless flow --
But they who kneel at woman's shrine,
Breathe on it as they bow --
Peace may fling back the gift again,
But the crush'd flower will leave a stain.

What shall preserve thee, beautiful child?
Keep thee as thou art now?
Bring thee, a spirit undefiled,
At God's pure throne to bow?
The world is but a broken reed,
And life grows early dim --
Who shall be near thee in thy need,
To lead thee up to Him?
He, who himself was "undefiled?"
With Him we trust thee, beautiful child!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net