Classic Poem

" O COME , O come, " the mother pray'd
And hush'd her babe: " let me behold
Once more thy stately form array'd
Like autumn woods in green and gold!

" I see thy brethren come and go;
Thy peers in stature, and in hue
Thy rivals. Some like monarchs glow
With richest purple: some are blue

" As skies that tempt the swallow back;
Or red as, seen o'er wintry seas,
The star of storm; or barr'd with black
And yellow, like the April bees.

" Come they and go! I heed not, I
Yet others hail their advent, cling
All trustful to their side, and fly
Safe in their gentle piloting

" To happy homes on heath or hill,
By park or river. Still I wait
And peer into the darkness: still
Thou com'st not — I am desolate.

" Hush! hark! I see a towering form!
From the dim distance slowly roll'd
It rocks like lilies in a storm,
And O, its hues are green and gold:

" It comes, it comes! Ah rest is sweet,
And there is rest, my babe, for us! "
She ceased, as at her very feet
Stopp'd the St. John's Wood omnibus.