Infants Remembered In Silence (IRIS) - Poems

A Child Loaned

Edgar Albert Guest

“I’ll lend you for a little time, a child of mine,” He said, “For you to love while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead. It may be days, six or seven years, or twenty-two or three, but will you till I get back, take care of him for me?” He’ll bring his charms to gladden you, and shall his stay be brief, you’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.”
“I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth returns, but there are lessons taught there I want this child to learn. I have looked the wide world over in search for teachers true and from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes I have selected you. Now will you give him all your love, not think the labor vain, nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again?”
“I fancied that I heard them 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 him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may, and for the happiness we’ve known, forever grateful stay. But shall the angels call him much sooner than we’ve planned, we’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.”

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