I'll lend you for a while
a child of mine
I’ll send you for a little time
A child of mine, He said,
For you to love the while she lives
And mourn for when she’s dead.
It may be forty or fifty years,
Or even two or three
But will you, till I call her back,
Take care of her, for me?
She’ll bring her charms to gladden you,
And should her stay be brief,
You’ll have her lovely memories
As solace for your grief.
I can not promise she will stay,
Since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked this wide world over
In my search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes
I have selected you.
Now, will you give her all your love,
Nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
To take her back again.
I fancied that I heard her say,
‘Dear Lord thy will be done.’
For all the joy thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we’ll run.
We’ll shelter her with tenderness,
We’ll love her while we may
And for the happiness we’ve known,
Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for her
Much sooner than we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand..
Author: Edgar Guest
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