The Children

The Children
1537

Mother of many children I-sprung of my heart and my brain-
And some have been borne in gladness and some have been
borne in pain,
But one has gone singing from out my door Never to come again

Content and Ease and Comfort-they abide with me day by day;
They smooth my couch and place my chair as dutiful children may,
And Success and Power, my strong-limbed sons,
Stand ever to clear my way

And these be the prudent children, the careful children and wise;
There was one and only one with a reckless dream in his eyes
He who was one with the wind o’ the dawn,
And kin to the wood and the skies
Faithful and fond are my children and they tend me well, in sooth;
Success and Content and Power, good proof is mine of their truth,
But the name of him that I lost was Joy,
Yea, my first-born Joy of Youth
Well do my children guard me, jealous of this their right:
Carefully, soberly, ever by daylight and candlelight
But oh, for my prodigal Joy of Youth
Somewhere out in the night!