A POEM FOR PARENTS IN MOURNING.
I'll lend you, for a little while,
a child of mine,
For you to love while he lives,
and mourn when he/she is dead
It may be six or seven years,
or twenty two or three,
...but, will you,
'til I call him back,
take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden
you and shall his stay be brief...
You'll have his lovely memories
as solace for your grief
I cannot promise he will stay,
as all from earth return,
...but there are lessons taught down
there that I want this child to learn...
I've looked the wide world over in
my search for teachers true,
..and from the throngs that crowd life's
lanes, I have chosen you.
Now, will you give him all your love -
- not think the labor vain...
Nor hate me when
I call him back again...?
I fancied that I heard them say,
Dear Lord, thy will be done,
For all the joy this child shall bring,
the risk of grief we'll run...
We'll shower him with tenderness and
love him while we may...
and for the happiness we've known,
forever grateful stay.
And, should the angels call for him
much sooner than we planned...
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
and try to understand....
He also has a lot more to offer.
