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