Richard Watson Gilder

Fra Lippo, we have learned from thee
A lesson of humanity:
To every mother's heart forlorn,
read more

Fra Lippo, we have learned from thee
A lesson of humanity:
To every mother's heart forlorn,
In every house the Christ is born.

I am the laughter of the new-born child
On whose soft-breathing sleep an angel smiled.

I am the laughter of the new-born child
On whose soft-breathing sleep an angel smiled.

Against the darkness outer
God's light his likeness takes,
And he from the mighty doubter
read more

Against the darkness outer
God's light his likeness takes,
And he from the mighty doubter
The great believer makes.

We lean on Faith; and some less wise have cried,
"Behold the butterfly, the see that's cast!"
read more

We lean on Faith; and some less wise have cried,
"Behold the butterfly, the see that's cast!"
Vain hopes that fall like flowers before the blast!
What man can look on Death unterrified?

Stream of the living world
Where dash the billows of strife!--
One plunge in the mighty torrent
read more

Stream of the living world
Where dash the billows of strife!--
One plunge in the mighty torrent
Is a year of tamer life!
City of glorious days,
Of hope, and labour and mirth,
With room and to spare, on thy splendid bays
For the ships of all the earth!