After Our Likeness
Ada Cambridge
1844 to 1926
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Before me now a little picture lies—
A little ______ of a childish face,
Childishly sweet, yet with the ______ grace
Of thought and wisdom on her lips and eyes.
Fair, oval, broad-brow'd face—small, delicate head—
Transparent skin, with ______ veins shining through—
All the soft outlines, beautiful and true,
Bring me the echo of the words God said.
______ in our image—sure 'tis that we see,
God's likeness, ______ the fair face of a child,
By the world's ______ and passion undefiled—
Ay, as I look, it seems ______ plain to me.
The light wherein the little features shine,
Strange, mystic light, so undefined and faint,
So far ______ pure for any words to paint—
'Tis a reflection ______ the Face divine.
Some day the earthly shadows will ______ cast
Across that sunshine—it may be to dim
Awhile ______ visible countenance of Him;
But 'twill be there—the likeness—to ______ last.
Some day the lucid waters, in which lie
______ those glorious lineaments, will be
Stirred up and troubled ______ a stormy sea;—
But they will yet re-settle—by-and-by.
______ will re-settle when the soul is still'd,
Its passions, ______ wild longings, and its pain;
The pure reflection will ______ out again
When earth's hopes are relinquish'd, unfulfill'd.
They ______ re-settle in those after-years
When life's hard lessons have ______ conned and learn'd;
When this child's beauty will have ______ return'd,
More lovely for the trouble and the tears.
______ will re-settle in the calm of death,
When the ______ eyes are laid asleep, and when
The heart is hush'd. Truly God's likeness then—
The mirror clear, unsullied by ______ breath.
Ah! while I look, and trace each tender line,
I think most of the day when I shall ______
The dear face in that perfect purity,
Its mortal ______ clothed with the divine.
This self-same face, but with ______ image bright,
Nevermore undefined, and faint, and dim;
This self-same face, yet like the face of Him,
In glory ______ in beauty infinite.