The Child To The Father

Father, it’s your love that safely guides me, Always it’s around me, night and day; It shelters me, and soothes, but never chides me: Yet, father, there’s a shadow in my way.

All the day, my father, I am playing Under trees where sunbeams dance and dart-- But often just at night when I am praying I feel this awful hunger in my heart.

Father, there is something--it has missed me; I’ve felt it through my little days and years; And even when you petted me and kissed me I’ve cried myself to sleep with burning tears.

To-day I saw a child and mother walking; I caught a gentle shining in her eye, And music in her voice when she was talking-- Oh, father, is it that that makes me cry?

Oh, never can I put my arms around her, Or never cuddle closer in the night; Mother, oh, my mother! I’ve not found her-- I look for her and cry from dark to light!