Ye call me a cruel reaper,
And say that I love to mow The fairest and sweetest blossoms, And lay their young beauty low: But oh! if ye knew the heart-aches That all who live long must know, Ye would hail me a pitying angel, Your best friend and not your foe. Ah, yes! I’m a pitying angel of light, On a mission of mercy sent; And whene’er I see a smile too bright, And a heart too innocent, Too tender and warm for your world of ice, I waft them away into Paradise. Mine aspect is pale and chilling; Cold, cold is my marble kiss; But it seals the awful passport To a world of eternal bliss. Oh! if ye but knew, ye mothers, The misery my stroke may spare Your babes, I should be watchword Of hope, and not of despair! Ah yes! I’m a pitying angel of light, On a mission of mercy sent; And whene’er I see a smile too bright, And a heart too innocent, Too tender and warm for your world of ice, I waft them away into Paradise. O’er a bud of the Bordighiera,* A sweet little maid I passed, Going, after long years of school life, To her palmy home at last. When all round were weeping and wailing, I said to myself and smiled: She’ll have holidays in Heaven, ‘Mid the immortal palms, sweet child! Ah yes! I’m a pitying angel of light, On a mission of mercy sent; And whene’er I see a smile too bright, And a heart too innocent, Too tender and warm for this world of ice, I waft them away into Paradise. On a delicate orphan flower With cold prospects, but heart of fire, I breathed in an east wind, and bore him Away to his heavenly Sire, While his mother was sobbing in anguish; I thought she should weep with joy! For ‘tis God himself hath provided For her poor dear fatherless boy! Ay! To hearts like his I’m angel of light, On a mission of mercy sent: He hath bidden a stormy world good-night, And now sleepeth in sweet content. What has he to do with a world of ice? Whose climate and home are in Paradise! - Chambers’s Journal. *The Bordighiera is a beautiful spot, celebrated for its palm trees, in the Riviére de Gênes.
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AuthorMick Martin is a writer and theatre maker. Archives
April 2022
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