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Poem
August 3, 1883
Maryland Independent
La Plata, Port Tobacco, Waldorf, Charles County, Maryland
What is this article about?
Swinburne's lyrical poem in three parts praises the delicate beauty of a baby's feet, hands, and eyes, comparing them to seashells, rosebuds, and windows to paradise, evoking innocence and divine purity.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A baby's feet, like sea-shells pink,
Might tempt, should heaven see meet,
An angel's lips to kiss, we think
A baby's feet.
Like rose-hued sea-flowers toward the heat,
They stretch and spread and wink
Their ten soft buds that part and meet.
No flower-bells that expand and shrink,
Gleam half so heavenly sweet,
As shine on life's untrodden brink,
A baby's feet.
II.
A baby's hands, like rosebuds furled,
Whence yet no leaf expands.
Ope if you touch, though close upcurled,
A baby's hands.
Then fast as warriors grip their brands
When battle's bolt is hurled,
They close, clenched hard like tightening bands
No rosebud yet by dawn impearled
Match, even in loveliest lands,
The sweetest flowers in all the world-
A baby's hands.
III.
A baby's eyes, ere speech begin,
Ere lips learn words or sighs,
Bless all things bright enough to win
A baby's eyes.
Love, while the sweet thing laughs and lies,
And sleep flows out and in,
Sees perfect in them Paradise,
A baby's eyes.
Their glance might cast out pain and sin,
Their speech make dumb and wise,
By mute, glad godhead felt within
A baby's eyes.-Swinburne.
Might tempt, should heaven see meet,
An angel's lips to kiss, we think
A baby's feet.
Like rose-hued sea-flowers toward the heat,
They stretch and spread and wink
Their ten soft buds that part and meet.
No flower-bells that expand and shrink,
Gleam half so heavenly sweet,
As shine on life's untrodden brink,
A baby's feet.
II.
A baby's hands, like rosebuds furled,
Whence yet no leaf expands.
Ope if you touch, though close upcurled,
A baby's hands.
Then fast as warriors grip their brands
When battle's bolt is hurled,
They close, clenched hard like tightening bands
No rosebud yet by dawn impearled
Match, even in loveliest lands,
The sweetest flowers in all the world-
A baby's hands.
III.
A baby's eyes, ere speech begin,
Ere lips learn words or sighs,
Bless all things bright enough to win
A baby's eyes.
Love, while the sweet thing laughs and lies,
And sleep flows out and in,
Sees perfect in them Paradise,
A baby's eyes.
Their glance might cast out pain and sin,
Their speech make dumb and wise,
By mute, glad godhead felt within
A baby's eyes.-Swinburne.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Religious Faith
Infancy Innocence
What keywords are associated?
Baby Feet
Baby Hands
Baby Eyes
Innocence
Divine Beauty
Swinburne Poem
What entities or persons were involved?
Swinburne
Poem Details
Author
Swinburne
Subject
A Baby's Feet, Hands, And Eyes
Key Lines
A Baby's Feet, Like Sea Shells Pink,
No Flower Bells That Expand And Shrink,
A Baby's Hands, Like Rosebuds Furled,
Sees Perfect In Them Paradise,
By Mute, Glad Godhead Felt Within