The following Poems were, with scarcely an exception, addressed to individuals, or suggested by actual occurrences. They have, however, little or nothing of an occasional character. CHILDHOOD. Он what a wilderness were this sad world Yet never single, but continuous, gliding Once in their life fair Eden's simpleness. TO AN INFANT. WISE is the way of Nature, first to make A thing that we may love as soon as see, What thoughts in thee may now begin to wake? Of breath from steel. So may the peace within TO AN INFANT. SURE 'tis a holy and a healing thought That fills my heart and mind at sight of thee, Sweet infant, we might deem thy smile was brought Where thou could'st know, and feel, and trust, and see That innocence which, lost, is vainly sought In this poor world. Yet, if thou wert so good As love conceives thee, thou hadst ne'er been born; For sure the Lord of Justice never would Have doomed a loyal spirit to be shorn TO AN INFANT. WRITTEN ON A SNOWY DAY. SOME say, sweet babe, thy mind is but a blank, Of unsunned snow, that passively must yield I deem not so of any human child, Nor can believe our nature ever sank To such a lowness. Nay, my pretty boy! Or mere privation thou hast hither come, Thought has come with thee, happy thought, though dumb. |