Page:Soldier poets, songs of the fighting men, 1916.djvu/60

 JOHN LODGE

God and the Child

HE blessing of all blessings did attend

The marriage of my friend,

And gave him, to his comfort and his joy,

A baby boy;

To whom, as day by day

The growing mind took strength and spread its wings

In search of many things,

The father would display

Nothing that was not true and pure and fair,

Withholding whatsoe'er,

Being born of ugliness and pain,

Turns to its own again.

So for the child was every season bright

And made for his delight;

No fear he knew of anger and the rod,

But, led by love and gentleness and care,

Found gifts of goodness everywhere

And babbled of the giver, even God.

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