Poems (Odom)/Little Maggie
LITTLE MAGGIE.
My purest pearl, my baby girl,
With laughing eyes of blue,
With forehead fair, and curly hair
Of golden brownish hue.
With laughing eyes of blue,
With forehead fair, and curly hair
Of golden brownish hue.
Your eyes to-night are clear and bright
As stars upon the sea;
While o'er your cheek red wavelets break
And ripple rosily.
As stars upon the sea;
While o'er your cheek red wavelets break
And ripple rosily.
I love to see those smiles of glee
Upon your baby lips;
No grief nor care has settled there
To shadow or eclipse.
Upon your baby lips;
No grief nor care has settled there
To shadow or eclipse.
Your dimpled feet, so fair and sweet,
Upon life's threshold stand—
Its fairest flowers and purest hours
Now tremble in your hand.
Upon life's threshold stand—
Its fairest flowers and purest hours
Now tremble in your hand.
With eager grasp your fingers clasp
Life's ever-dipping oars;
Oh, row with care, sweet baby fair,
A woman's bark is yours!
Life's ever-dipping oars;
Oh, row with care, sweet baby fair,
A woman's bark is yours!
Your hands so frail must guide your sail
O'er waters high and wild,
Whose smoothest sea will never be
A placid one, my child.
O'er waters high and wild,
Whose smoothest sea will never be
A placid one, my child.
Your soul will meet with storm and sleet,
With tempests on your way;
For clouds will rise in brightest skies,
Cast anchor where you may.
With tempests on your way;
For clouds will rise in brightest skies,
Cast anchor where you may.
O'er womanhood should sorrow brood
To bow your woman's pride,
Like stars at night, let hope's pure light
Reflect upon the tide.
To bow your woman's pride,
Like stars at night, let hope's pure light
Reflect upon the tide.
The darkest fate that dares await
Your voyage to enshroud,
Its power will lose if faith's bright hues
Are arched upon the cloud.
Your voyage to enshroud,
Its power will lose if faith's bright hues
Are arched upon the cloud.
Tho' smiles or tears may tinge your years,
Shall light or quench their flame,
My purest love will ever prove
For you, my child, the same.
Shall light or quench their flame,
My purest love will ever prove
For you, my child, the same.
A mother's prayers, a mother's tears,
Fresh from the heart and eye,
Upon your curls, my pearl of pearls
In benediction lie.
Fresh from the heart and eye,
Upon your curls, my pearl of pearls
In benediction lie.
*******
Above her brow the willows now
In solemn silence wave;
In soft perfume the daisies bloom
About her little grave.
In solemn silence wave;
In soft perfume the daisies bloom
About her little grave.
Two years of love had smiled above
My darling's golden head,
When she was laid in gloom and shade
Among the early dead.
My darling's golden head,
When she was laid in gloom and shade
Among the early dead.