The Troubadour; Catalogue of Pictures, and Historical Sketches/A Child Screening a Dove from a Hawk

by Letitia Elizabeth Landon

A CHILD SCREENING A DOVE

FROM A HAWK.

BY STEWARDSON.

Ay, screen thy favourite dove, fair child,
    Ay, screen it if you may,—
Yet I misdoubt thy trembling hand
    Will scare the hawk away.

That dove will die, that child will weep,—
    Is this their destinie?
Ever amid the sweets of life
    Some evil thing must be.

Ay, moralize,—is it not thus
    We've mourn'd our hope and love?
Alas! there's tears for every eye,
    A hawk for every dove!