Explore "Birthday Verses" by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
H. B. S.
Arise, and call her blessed, -- seventy years! / Each one a tongue to speak for her, who needs / No poor device of ours to tell to-day / The story of her glory in our hearts. / Precede us all, ye quiet lips of love, / Ye honors high of home -- nobilities / Of mother and of wife -- the heraldry / Of happiness; dearer to her than were / The homage of the world. We yield unto / The royal claims of tenderness. Speak thou / Before all voices, ripened human life!