Baby Charley

He's fast asleep.  See how, O Wife,

Night's finger on the lip of life

Bids whist the tongue, so prattle-rife,

  Of busy Baby Charley.

One arm stretched backward round his head,

Five little toes from out the bed

Just showing, like five rosebuds red,

  — So slumbers Baby Charley.

Heaven-lights, I know, are beaming through

Those lucent eyelids, veined with blue,

That shut away from mortal view

  Large eyes of Baby Charley.

O sweet Sleep-Angel, throned now

On the round glory of his brow,

Wave thy wing and waft my vow

  Breathed over Baby Charley.

I vow that my heart, when death is nigh,

Shall never shiver with a sigh

For act of hand or tongue or eye

  That wronged my Baby Charley!