Looking Backward

O my child love
My love of long ago
How great was life
When thou and I were young !
The world was boundless
For we did not know;
A life, a poem
For we had not sung

Now is the world grown small
And we thereon
Fill with mere care and toil
Each narrow day;
Elves from the wood
Dreams from my heart are gone
And heaven is bare
For God is far away

Canst thou not come
And touch my hand again
And I look on thee
With grave and inocent eyes ?
Thy God has many angels;
I would fain Woo for one hour
One angel from the skies

O my child love
Come back comе back to me
And, laughing, lead me
From thе toil and din !
Lay on my heart
Those small hands tenderly
And let the whole world in