Innocence

Where were you when winter called?
Asleep within your mother's womb,
When swept with all it's torrent swift
Your father to his tomb.

Heard you not the dying peals
Ring-out throughout the moaning dawn?
Heard you not the pitied plea
When all God's hope was gone?

Felt you not the helpless sorrow
When his life had ceased to be?
Cried you not a faithless tear
In selfish piety?

Saw you not in velvet splendor
That moonless night with shadows deep
The crystal still-life face of ages
Bless the everlasting sleep

When you awoke the dawn was breaking.
In freshness wrought it life anew.
And the sun in lusty brilliance Swallowed up the icy dew.