Poems (Eaton)/Dormie Darling
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DORMIE DARLING.
THOU'RT gone to rest before me, Dormie darling,
Thou'rt gone to rest, my child—
That sleep from which no earthly power can waken.
Thy weary, drooping lids hath overtaken,
And death a helpless prisoner hath bound thee,
And the grave's solitude and gloom surround thee,
Yet from the past, as sent on wings of healing,
Like sweet perfume from faded flowers stealing,
Thy memory comes o'er me, Dormie darling,
Comes over me, my child.
Thou'rt gone to rest, my child—
That sleep from which no earthly power can waken.
Thy weary, drooping lids hath overtaken,
And death a helpless prisoner hath bound thee,
And the grave's solitude and gloom surround thee,
Yet from the past, as sent on wings of healing,
Like sweet perfume from faded flowers stealing,
Thy memory comes o'er me, Dormie darling,
Comes over me, my child.
Thou wert my joy and blessing, Dormie darling,
My joy and blessing, child—
Thou hadst my senses in most holy keeping,
Thy lightest tones would set my pulses leaping,
And never yet, beloved, didst thou grieve me,
Until at higher bidding thou didst leave me
To find mid purer scenes thy home in heaven—
While here in loneliness from morn till even
I long for thy caressing, Dormie darling,
I long for thee, my child.
My joy and blessing, child—
Thou hadst my senses in most holy keeping,
Thy lightest tones would set my pulses leaping,
And never yet, beloved, didst thou grieve me,
Until at higher bidding thou didst leave me
To find mid purer scenes thy home in heaven—
While here in loneliness from morn till even
I long for thy caressing, Dormie darling,
I long for thee, my child.
I'm longing for some token, Dormie darling,
Some token, dearest child,
That though a glorious spirit, thou art near me,
With gentle soothing, striving still to cheer me—
Oh! but to hear the softly breathed "Mother"
Whispered by lips, with music like none other—
Oh! but to feel thine arms' slight pressure round me
Whose sweetest and most welcome fetters bound me,
And read the love unspoken, Dormie darling,
In thy pure eyes, my child.
Some token, dearest child,
That though a glorious spirit, thou art near me,
With gentle soothing, striving still to cheer me—
Oh! but to hear the softly breathed "Mother"
Whispered by lips, with music like none other—
Oh! but to feel thine arms' slight pressure round me
Whose sweetest and most welcome fetters bound me,
And read the love unspoken, Dormie darling,
In thy pure eyes, my child.
My life is dark and lonely, Dormie darling,
I'm lonely now, my child—
For the blest radiance from thy presence beaming,
Lighting the future with such glorious seeming,
Went out with thee, and stricken down I'm groping
'Along tangled reeds, by quivering torchlight, hoping,
Still hoping for that promised dawn, whose breaking
Will loose the bonds which keep the soul from waking,
In whose pure brightness only, Dormie darling,
We meet again, my child.
I'm lonely now, my child—
For the blest radiance from thy presence beaming,
Lighting the future with such glorious seeming,
Went out with thee, and stricken down I'm groping
'Along tangled reeds, by quivering torchlight, hoping,
Still hoping for that promised dawn, whose breaking
Will loose the bonds which keep the soul from waking,
In whose pure brightness only, Dormie darling,
We meet again, my child.
Our love can never perish, Dormie darling,
It cannot fade, my child,
Gift of the Infinite, which we inherit,
As all His children, whose pure loving spirit,
As shown alike in giving and recalling,
Will surely keep our fainting steps from falling.
So trusting on till unto us 'tis given
To meet rejoicing in that glorious heaven,
Life of my life, I cherish, Dormie darling,
My love for thee, my child.
It cannot fade, my child,
Gift of the Infinite, which we inherit,
As all His children, whose pure loving spirit,
As shown alike in giving and recalling,
Will surely keep our fainting steps from falling.
So trusting on till unto us 'tis given
To meet rejoicing in that glorious heaven,
Life of my life, I cherish, Dormie darling,
My love for thee, my child.