Rain and Roses

<h2><SPAN name="THE_CHASTENING" id="THE_CHASTENING"></SPAN>The Chastening</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="ig"><span class="letra">I</span> SEE thee now thine innocence<br/></span> <span class="ih">Writ on thy soul’s clear skies.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Thy laughter loving mouth<br/></span> <span class="i0">Thy love provoking eyes.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">I mark thy soft girl fairness<br/></span> <span class="i0">Thy strong young body’s grace,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The woman soul that I have nursed<br/></span> <span class="i0">Dawning behind thy face.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">I note with fear thy heedless<br/></span> <span class="i0">And unchided turbulence.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Unfaltering faith in life and love<br/></span> <span class="i0">Thine air of confidence.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">And then I see as seers might see<br/></span> <span class="i0">Even as one’s own God.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Thy straight, slim youthfulness<br/></span> <span class="i0">Bend to the chastening rod.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">I writhe to think I may not bear<br/></span> <span class="i0">The blows, for thine own sake<br/></span> <span class="i0">I can not, tho’ ’tis mine to know<br/></span> <span class="i0">How one small heart can ache.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="page_7" id="page_7">{7}</SPAN></span><br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">In the winds of thy fierce breaking<br/></span> <span class="i0">God grant I never see<br/></span> <span class="i0">Thy flashing spirit sullen,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Or thy lips in mutiny.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">But rather child, I’d have thee know<br/></span> <span class="i0">Even as I the rod,<br/></span> <span class="i0">As a tuning fork to bring thy song<br/></span> <span class="i0">Back to the harp of God.<br/></span> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="page_8" id="page_8">{8}</SPAN></span></div> </div></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />