A Child Screening A Dove From A Hawk By Stewardson

By Letitia Elizabeth Landon

AY, screen thy favourite dove, fair child,

Ay, screen it if you may,--

Yet I misdoubt thy trembling hand

Will scare the hawk away.

That dove will die, that child will weep,--

Is this their destinie?

Ever amid the sweets of life

Some evil thing must be.

Ay, moralize,--is it not thus

We've mourn'd our hope and love?

Alas! there's tears for every eye,

A hawk for every dove!