The Mission of Bahá’u’lláh/A little child shall lead them

[Page 151]A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM 151

That within your smile is curled.

Yours is not a conscious art; ’Tis the wild magic of your heart. You but speak a simple word Often said and often heard When before my wondering eyes An unveiled Paradise Bursts about me into flower. Here each nimble-footed hour Daft with all the fun that’s in it Dances like a madcap minute. All the earth in light enfolden Seems a chamber green and golden Dight for love’s festivities; And a thousand harmonics Softer sweeter more endeared Than my heart had ever heard Gush from every bank and rise Fill the woods and touch the skies. Wind and cloud and leaf and stream Notes of purest music seem And all Nature like a choir Tuned to the sun-God’s lyre In new hymns of jubilee Chants her ancient ecstasy.

Yet the flowing cup of bliss Holds more precious wine than this. Our sweet rapture did but screen Brighter glories yet unseen; ’Twas a distant fragrance blown From a Garden yet unknown. Love has pierced the mystery Hid within the prophecy Of the heavenly poets who said ‘By a child shall they be led,’ ‘From a babe is wisdom gained From the weak is strength ordained.’

[Page 152]152 THE MISSION OF Bahá’u’lláh

By some mightier miracle

Than any feigne’d charm or spell A little smiling newborn boy

In his gift will hold more joy Open glimpses of a heaven

More remote from earth than even That enchanted land we knew Where all fairy-tales came true. Now when e’er I gaze upon

This my loved and loving son, When beside his bed I keep Watcho’er his elysian sleep

When I fold him in my arms Nestling safe from all alarms

Or behold his innocence

With a sinner’s reverence Lo, an infinite high hope

On my longing ’gins to ope!

With this tiny hand to guide

We Will leave the cold earth’s side And faring far and far away Beyond the springs of night and day Will travel to the end the road That bears all lovers up to God.