Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A PLEA FOR THE LITTLE ONES, by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL Poet's Biography First Line: It was easter monday morning Last Line: Our cause, the cause of god. Subject(s): Children; Easter; Holidays; Childhood; The Resurrection | ||||||||
IT was Easter Monday morning, A dull and showery day; We were sorry for the children Who could not run and play. I heard the sound of singing As I passed along the street An unseen tiny chorus Of tiny voices sweet Beneath a sheltering doorway, Safe from the April weather, Eight happy little singers Sat lovingly together. Five crowding on the doorstep Wiih arms entwined, and three On broken stool or baby chair, Close clustering knee to knee They sang about the 'happy land, So very 'far away,' And happier faces never shone In any game of play. And then they sang it all again, And gently rocked each other; Then said the little leader, 'Now let us sing another!' 'Now I will say a hymn to you!' (Oh, the sixteen eyes were bright!) So I said them 'Little Jessie,' As they listened with delight. JESSIE'S FRIEND 'Little Jessie, darling pet, Do you want a Friend? One who never will forget, Loving to the end? 'One whom you can tell, when sad, Everything that grieves, One who loves to make you glad, One who never leaves? 'Such a loving Friend is ours, Near us all the day, Helping us in lesson-hours, Smiling on our play; 'Keeping us from doing wrong, Guarding everywhere; Listening to each happy song, And each little prayer. 'Jessie, if you only knew What He is to me, Surely you would love Him too, You would "come and see." 'Come, and you will find it true, Happy you will be! Jesus says, and says to you, "Come, oh come, to Me." 'Now tell me who, if you can guess, Was little Jessie's Friend? Who is the Friend who loves so much, And loveth to the end?' I would that you had seen the smile On every sunny face; It made a palace of delight Out of that dismal place, As, reverently yet joyously, They answered without fear, 'It's Jesus!' That beloved Name Had never seemed more dear. And then we talked awhile of Him They knew the story well; His holy life, His precious death Those rosy lips could tell. All beautiful, and wonderful, And sweet and true it seemed, Such hold no fairy tale had gained That ever fancy dreamed. So, to be good and kind all day These little children tried, Because they knew He was so good, Because He bled and died. Blest knowledge! O what human lore Can be compared with such! 'Who taught you this, dear little ones? Where did you learn so much?' Again the bright eyes cheerily Looked up from step and stool; They answered (mark the answer well!) 'We learnt it all at school!' At school, at school! And shall we take The Book of books away! Withhold it from the little ones? Leave them at will to stray Upon dark mountains, helplessly, Without the guiding light That God entrusts to us, until They perish in the night? What was the world before that Book Went forth in glorious might? Availed the lore of Greece and Rome To chase its Stygian night? We send the messengers of life To many a distant strand, And shall we tie the tongues that teach The poor of our own land? Shall husks and chaff be freely given, And not the Bread of Life? And shall the Word of Peace become A centre of mad strife? Shall those who name the Name of Christ His own great gift withhold? Our Lamp, our Chart, our Sword, our Song, Our Pearl, our most fine Gold! Why would ye have 'no Bible taught?' Is it for fear? or shame? Out, out upon such coward hearts, False to their Master's name! If God be God, if truth be truth, If Christian men be men, Let them arise and fight the fight, Though it were one to ten! With battle-cry of valiant faith, Let Britain's sons arise, 'Our children shall be taught the Word That only maketh wise!' So, dauntlessly, will we unfurl Our banner bright and broad, The cause of His dear Word of Life, Our cause, the Cause of God. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EASTER EVE by FRANCIS WILLIAM BOURDILLON EASTER SUNDAY by LUCILLE CLIFTON GOD SEND EASTER by LUCILLE CLIFTON NOT THE CUCKOLD'S DREAM; FOR SAM PEREIRA by NORMAN DUBIE EASTER HYMN by GEORGE SANTAYANA I DEFINE THE DARKNESS CORRECT: THE FESTIVAL OF THE FRERES LUMIERES by ELENI SIKELIANOS SPANISH EASTER: 1926 by CONRAD AIKEN CONSECRATION HYMN by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL I DID THIS FOR THEE! WHAT HAST THOU DONE FOR ME? by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL A BIRTHDAY GREETING TO MY FATHER, 1860 by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL |
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