A Child Asleep

6Nosegays! leave them for the waking:

7Throw them earthward where they grew.

8Dim are such, beside the breaking

9Amaranths he looks unto — -

10Folded eyes see brighter colours than the open ever do.

11Heaven-flowers, rayed by shadows golden

12From the paths they sprang beneath,

13Now perhaps divinely holden,

14Swing against him in a wreath — -

15We may think so from the quickening of his bloom and of his breath.

16Vision unto vision calleth,

17While the young child dreameth on.

18Fair, O dreamer, thee befalleth

19With the glory thou hast won!

20Darker wert thou in the garden, yestermorn, by summer sun.

21We should see the spirits ringing

22Round thee, — -were the clouds away.

23'Tis the child-heart draws them, singing

24In the silent-seeming clay — -

25Singing! — -Stars that seem the mutest, go in music all the way.

26As the moths around a taper,

27As the bees around a rose,

28As the gnats around a vapour, — -

29So the Spirits group and close

30Round about a holy childhood, as if drinking its repose.

31Shapes of brightness overlean thee, — -

32Flash their diadems of youth

33On the ringlets which half screen thee, — -

34While thou smilest, . . . not in sooth

35Thy smile . . . but the overfair one, dropt from some aethereal mouth.

36Haply it is angels' duty,

37During slumber, shade by shade:

38To fine down this childish beauty

39To the thing it must be made,

40Ere the world shall bring it praises, or the tomb shall see it fade.

41Softly, softly! make no noises!

42Now he lieth dead and dumb — -

43Now he hears the angels' voices

44Folding silence in the room — -

45Now he muses deep the meaning of the Heaven-words as they come.

46Speak not! he is consecrated — -

47Breathe no breath across his eyes.

48Lifted up and separated,

49On the hand of God he lies,

50In a sweetness beyond touching — -held in cloistral sanctities.

51Could ye bless him — -father — -mother ?

52Bless the dimple in his cheek?

53Dare ye look at one another,

54And the benediction speak?

55Would ye not break out in weeping, and confess yourselves too weak?

56He is harmless — -ye are sinful, — -

57Ye are troubled — -he, at ease:

58From his slumber, virtue winful

59Floweth outward with increase — -

60Dare not bless him! but be blessed by his peace — -and go in peace.