Poems (Odom)/To Mollie Brown

TO MOLLIE BROWN.

ON HER SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY,

Sixteen! that sweet, poetic age,
On which we love to dwell;
It throws around a maiden's heart
A soft and witching spell.
'T is as the early morning dew
Upon a rose-bud thrown—
'T is as that rose-bud's timid blush
Before 't is fully blown.

Thy young heart now is bright and gay,
'T is free from every care;
And all the flowers of youthful joy
Bloom fresh and fragrant there.
The radiant light of girlish hope
Beams sweetly from thine eye,
As brightly as a star that gems
The summer twilight sky.

The past for thee has all been fair,
No cloud its beauty mars;
The sky that still above thee bends
Is bright with countless stars.
But none can lift the veil that hides
The future from our sight,
Or tell how soon dark clouds may dim
The hopes that now are bright.

But if the prayer that friendship breathes
Can win bright joys for thee,
From every cloud of grief or care
Thy future shall be free.
And when the silver crown of age
Upon thy brow is seen,
Thy heart shall throb as lightly then
As now at "sweet sixteen."

And when thy earthly joys are past,—
When death for thee shall come,
May sister-spirits from on high
Convey thee gently home.
Oh, may they bear thee swiftly then
To God's bright throne above,
Where thou wilt find eternal rest
In his undying love!