After Our Likeness

Ada Cambridge

Ada Cambridge portrait

1844 to 1926

Poem Image
Track 1

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

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Poet portrait