"After Our Likeness"

Before me now a little picture lies--
A little shadow of a childish face,
Childishly sweet, yet with the dawning grace
Of thought and wisdom on her lips and eyes.

Fair, oval, broad-brow'd face--small, delicate head--
Transparent skin, with blue veins shining through--
All the soft outlines, beautiful and true,
Bring me the echo of the words "God said."

Made "in our image"--sure 'tis that we see,
God's likeness, in the fair face of a child,
By the world's sin and passion undefiled--
Ay, as I look, it seems quite plain to me.

The light wherein the little features shine,
Strange, mystic light, so undefined and faint,
So far too pure for any words to paint--
'Tis a reflection of the Face divine.

Some day the earthly shadows will be cast
Across that sunshine--it may be to dim
Awhile the visible countenance of Him;
But 'twill be there--the likeness--to the last.

Some day the lucid waters, in which lie
Pictured those glorious lineaments, will be
Stirred up and troubled like a stormy sea;--
But they will yet re-settle--by-and-by.

They will re-settle when the soul is still'd,
Its passions, its wild longings, and its pain;
The pure reflection will shine out again
When earth's hopes are relinquish'd, unfulfill'd.

They will re-settle in those after-years
When life's hard lessons have been conned and learn'd;
When this child's beauty will have all return'd,
More lovely for the trouble and the tears.

They will re-settle in the calm of death,
When the sweet eyes are laid asleep, and when
The heart is hush'd. Truly God's likeness then--
The mirror clear, unsullied by a breath.

Ah! while I look, and trace each tender line,
I think most of the day when I shall see
The dear face in that perfect purity,
Its mortal features clothed with the divine.

This self-same face, but with the image bright,
Nevermore undefined, and faint, and dim;
This self-same face, yet like the face of Him,
In glory and in beauty infinite.