Poems (Hale)/To a beautiful Child of five years

by Mary Whitwell Hale

TO A BEAUTIFUL CHILD OF FIVE YEARS.

Vision of beauty! that hast burst
 Upon my gazing sight,
Breathing of grace and loveliness,
 All life, and joy, and light;
Within that eye's deep tenderness,
 And on that unstained brow,
I trace the fearless confidence
 Which sorrow ne'er should bow.

Child of scarce five short years, thyself
 Bright as those precious hours
When, Eden-like, the young year smiles
 From out its fragrant bowers;
Thy Summer's radiant flowers are strewed
 Along thy happy way;
And Hope, sweet childhood's brilliant sun,
 Beams forth its cloudless ray.

Sorrow, as yet, upon thy brow
 Its signet hath not pressed:
Thou like some spotless spirit art,
 All blessing and all blessed.
Thy tears are nature's pearly dew
 Which joy's bright sun dispels;
Thy smiles the gushing fount which from
 Thy young heart's rapture swells.

Still through life's mazy pathway be
 That heart thus free from guile;
As light and glad that bounding step;
 As bright that beaming smile.
Still be the sunlight of thy glance
 Fair with truth's heavenly ray;
And the rich promise of thy morn
 Brighten to "perfect day."