The Universe

I heard a little child beneath the stars

Talk as he ran along

To some sweet riddle in his mind that seemed

A-tiptoe into song.

In his dark eyes lay a wild universe,—

Wild forests, peaks, and crests;

Angels and fairies, giants, wolves and he

Were that world's only guests.

Elsewhere was home and mother, his warm bed:—

Now, only God alone

Could, armed with all His power and wisdom, make

Earths richer than his own.

O Man!—thy dreams, thy passions, hopes, desires!—

He in his pity keep

A homely bed where love may lull a child's

Fond Universe asleep!