And did thy sapphire shallop slip <br />Its moorings suddenly, to dip <br /> <br />Adown the clear, ethereal sea <br />From star to star, all silently? <br />What tenderness of archangels <br />In silver, thrilling syllables <br />Pursued thee, or what dulcet hymn <br />Low-chanted by the cherubim? <br />And thou departing must have heard <br />The holy Mary's farewell word, <br />Who with deep eyes and wistful smile <br />Remembered Earth a little while. <br /> <br />Now from the coasts of morning pale <br />Comes safe to port thy tiny sail. <br />Now have we seen by early sun, <br />Thy miracle of life begun. <br />All breathing and aware thou art, <br />With beauty templed in thy heart <br />To let thee recognize the thrill <br />Of wings along far azure hill, <br />And hear within the hollow sky <br />Thy friends the angels rushing by. <br />These shall recall that thou hast known <br />Their distant country as thine own, <br />To spare thee word of vales and streams, <br />And publish heaven through thy dreams. <br />The human accents of the breeze <br />Through swaying star-acquainted trees <br />Shall seem a voice heard earlier, <br />Her voice, the adoring sigh of her, <br />When thou amid rosy cherub-play <br />Didst hear her call thee, far away, <br />And dream in very Paradise <br />The worship of thy mother's eyes.<br /><br />Grace Hazard Conkling<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-a-new-born-baby-girl/
