O my child love, my love of long ago, How great was life when thou and I were young ! The world was boundless, For we did not know; A life, a poem, For we had not sung. Now is the world grown small and we thereon Fill with mere care and toil each narrow day; Elves from the wood, Dreams from my heart are gone And heaven is bare, for God is far away. Canst thou not come and touch my hand again, And I look on thee with grave and inocent eyes ? Thy God has many angels; I would fain Woo for one hour One angel from the skies. O my child love, come back come back to me, And, laughing, lead me from the toil and din ! Lay on my heart those small hands tenderly And let the whole world in. Lyrics: Julian Sturgis - (1848 - 1904), "Looking Backwards"
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