Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
Poems of Home: I. About ChildrenA Portrait
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (18061861)I
Ten times have the lilies blown
Since she looked upon the sun.
Lily-shaped, and dropped in duty
To the law of its own beauty.
Which a trail of golden hair
Keeps from fading off to air;
Which two blue eyes undershine,
Like meek prayers before a shrine.
Though too calm, you think, and tender,
For the childhood you would lend her.
Frank, obedient,—waiting still
On the turnings of your will.
As young birds, or early wheat,
When the wind blows over it.
Of loud mirth that scorneth measure,—
Taking love for her chief pleasure.
Which come softly,—just as she,
When she nestles at your knee.
In a bower of gentle looks,—
Watering flowers, or reading books.
As a silver stream may run,
Which yet feels, you feel, the sun.
As if drawn from thoughts more far
Than our common jestings are.
He would sing of her with falls
Used in lovely madrigals.
He would paint her unaware
With a halo round the hair.
He would whisper, “You have done a
Consecrated little Una.”
That same picture) would exclaim,
“’T is my angel, with a name!”
In the street even, smileth stilly,
Just as you would at a lily.
Soften, sleeken every word,
As if speaking to a bird.
The hard earth whereon she passes,
With the thymy-scented grasses.
Ay, and always, in good sooth,
We may all be sure H