Explore "A Dirge" by Olive Tilford Dargan on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Mortal child, lay thee where / Earth is gift and giver; / Midnight owl, witch, or bear / Shall disturb thee never!
Softly, softly take thy place, / Turn from man thy waning face; / Fear not thou must lie alone, / Sleep-mates thou shalt have anon.
(Clock of Time none commands, / Driveth not the winter floods, / Where the silent, tireless sands / Run the ages of the gods.)
Thine is not a jealous bed; / Pillow here hath every head; / All that are and all to be / Shall ask a little room of thee.
(Feet of flame, haste nor creep / Where the stars are of thy pace; / Heart of fire, in shadows sleep, / With the sun in thy embrace.)
Babe of Time, old in care, / Sweet is Earth, the giver; / Owlet, witch, or midnight bear / Shall disturb thee never.