The Day of the Child
IF only this night were ended !
If only to-morrow were done !
I would face without fear each day of the year,
If Thou wouldst blot out this one, —
If Thou wouldst blot out this one!
If only to-morrow were done !
I would face without fear each day of the year,
If Thou wouldst blot out this one, —
If Thou wouldst blot out this one!
To-morrow the chimes will be ringing,
And the Christmas trumpets will blow.
Dost Thou wot of the lips that were warm and red,
That are cold and white as the snow, —
That are cold and white as the snow ?
And the Christmas trumpets will blow.
Dost Thou wot of the lips that were warm and red,
That are cold and white as the snow, —
That are cold and white as the snow ?
Dost Thou wot of the dimpled fingers
Folded down in the dark below?
O Thou that holdest the worlds in a breath,
Dost Thou know it the way I know, —
My God, dost Thou know it the way I know?
Folded down in the dark below?
O Thou that holdest the worlds in a breath,
Dost Thou know it the way I know, —
My God, dost Thou know it the way I know?
“ Yea, verily, so I know it.”
To Doubt Love gave refrain.
“’T is thou, ’t is thou who hast forgot:
Where was ’t My head hath lain, —
Dear heart, where was ’t My head hath lain?”
To Doubt Love gave refrain.
“’T is thou, ’t is thou who hast forgot:
Where was ’t My head hath lain, —
Dear heart, where was ’t My head hath lain?”
Against my hungry, starving heart
The Child laid close His head.
“ Wouldst thou blot out My birthright now ? ”<br/> Was all the word He said, —
Wouldst thou ? was all the word He said.
The Child laid close His head.
“ Wouldst thou blot out My birthright now ? ”<br/> Was all the word He said, —
Wouldst thou ? was all the word He said.
The children that are Thine, dear Lord,
With us they may not stay;
But Mary’s Child, but Mary’s Child,
He shall be ours for aye,—
Dear Lord, He shall be ours for aye !
With us they may not stay;
But Mary’s Child, but Mary’s Child,
He shall be ours for aye,—
Dear Lord, He shall be ours for aye !
Ellen Boyd Findlay