My Baby

He lay on my breast so sweet and fair,
    I fondly fancied his home was there,
Nor thought that the eyes of merry blue,
    With baby love for me laughing through,

Were pining to go from whence he came,
    Leaving my arm empty and heart in pain,
Longing to spread out his wings and fly
    To his native home far beyond the sky

They took him out of my arms and said
    My baby so sweet and fair was dead,
My baby that was my heart's delight
    The fair little body they robed in white

Flowers they placed at the head and feet
    Like my baby fair, like my baby sweet,
They laid him down in a certain place,
    And round him they draped soft folds of lace

Till I'd look my last at my baby white,
    Before they carried him from my sight,
By the sweet dead babe, so fair to see,
    They tried in kindness to comfort me

They said, he is safe from care and pain,
    Safe and unspotted by sin or stain;
Before the mystery of the years
    Brings heart ache or pang, or sorrow's tears.

He's safe, sweet lamb, in the Shepherd's care,
    Sorrow nor suffering enters there;
But with brow of gladness, clothed in light,
    He is fair as the angels in His sight.

I know what they said to me was true,
    And should have fallen on my heart like dew;
For, although my grief was very sore,
    My baby was safe for evermore.

I know that they spoke with kindly care,
    My grief to comfort and soothe, or share;
But I gave my baby the last, last kiss,
    Saying, God alone comforts grief like this.