  I SEE thee now thine innocence Writ on thy soul’s clear skies. Thy laughter loving mouth Thy love provoking eyes. I mark thy soft girl fairness Thy strong young body’s grace, The woman soul that I have nursed Dawning behind thy face. I note with fear thy heedless And unchided turbulence. Unfaltering faith in life and love Thine air of confidence. And then I see as seers might see Even as one’s own God. Thy straight, slim youthfulness Bend to the chastening rod. I writhe to think I may not bear The blows, for thine own sake I can not, tho’ ’tis mine to know How one small heart can ache. In the winds of thy fierce breaking God grant I never see Thy flashing spirit sullen, Or thy lips in mutiny. But rather child, I’d have thee know Even as I the rod, As a tuning fork to bring thy song Back to the harp of God. |
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