Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, COMING INTO THE SHADE, by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COMING INTO THE SHADE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Out in the midsummer sunshine
Last Line: Among the flowers in the summer glow.
Subject(s): Children; Childhood


OUT in the midsummer sunshine,
Out in the golden light,
Merrily helping the gardener,
Ever so busy and bright,—
With tiny barrow and rake and hoe,
Helena flitted to and fro.

But the midsummer sun rose higher
Over the flowery spot;
'I must rest a little now,' she said,
'I am so tired and hot.
Oh, let me come to you, and look
At the pictures in your beautiful book.'

Why we should leave the sunny lawn
She did not understand,
But cheerily, trustfully, Helena laid
In mine, her little brown hand,
And I led her away to a shady room,
To rest in the coolness and the gloom.

For she could not have seen the pictures
Out in that dazzling light;
The book was there with its colors fair,
But the sunshine was too bright.
But in the shade I could let her look
At the pictures in my beautiful book.

'I have never seen them before,' she said,
'I am so glad I came!
And the gardener will manage the flowers, I think,
Without me, just the same!
And I need not trouble at all, you know,
About my barrow and rake and hoe.'

So page after page was gently turned,
As I showed her one by one,
And told her what the pictures meant,
Till the beautiful book was done.
And then—I shall not soon forget
The loving kiss of my tiny pet.

And now—I shall not soon forget
The lesson she had taught,
How from the sunshine into the shade
God's little ones are brought,
That they may see what He could not show
Among the flowers in the summer glow.





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