Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/The Star and the Child
The Star and the Child.
A maiden walked at eventide
Beside a clear and placid stream,
And smiled, as in its depths she saw
A trembling star's reflected beam.
Beside a clear and placid stream,
And smiled, as in its depths she saw
A trembling star's reflected beam.
She smiled until the beam was lost,
As 'cross the sky a cloud was driven;
And then she sighed, and then forgot
The star was shining still in heaven.
As 'cross the sky a cloud was driven;
And then she sighed, and then forgot
The star was shining still in heaven.
A mother sat beside life's stream,
Watching a dying child at dawn,
And smiled, as from its eye she caught
A hope that it might still live on.
Watching a dying child at dawn,
And smiled, as from its eye she caught
A hope that it might still live on.
She smiled until the eyelids closed,
But watched for breath until the even;
And' then she wept, and then forgot
The child was living still in heaven.
But watched for breath until the even;
And' then she wept, and then forgot
The child was living still in heaven.