"Child of the pure unclouded brow" from Through the looking glass, Lewis Carroll-------
Child of the pure unclouded brow
and dreaming eyes of wonder
though time be fleet, and I and thou
are half a life asunder,
thy loving smile will surely hail
the love-gift of a fairy tale.
I have not seen thy sunny face,
not heard thy silver laughter;
no thought of me shall find a place
in thy young life's hearafter-
Enough that now thou will not fail
to listen to my fairy tale.
A tale begun in other days,
when summer suns were glowing-
a simple chime, that served to time
the rhythm of our rowing-
whose echoes live in memory yet,
though envious years would say "forget".
Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread,
with bitter tidings laden,
shall summon to unwelcome bed
a melancholy maiden!
We are but older children, dear,
who fret to find our bedtime near.
Without, the frost, the blinding snow,
the storm-wind's moody madness-
within, the firelight's ruddy glow,
and childhood's nest of gladness.
The magic words shall hold thee fast:
thou shall not heed the raving blast.
And though the shadow of a sigh
may tremble through the story,
for "happy summer days" gone by,
and vanish'd summer glory-
it shall not touch with breath of bale
the pleasance of our fairy tale...
