TO ALL PARENTS: By Edgar A. Guest

We found this poem, by Edgar A. Guest, among Cara Lynn's papers.

Wondering if she put it there to comfort us. It would have been like her to do that for us.

She also had a little cartoon book about a forest re-awakening in the

spring and I'm sure she thought of us when she purchased that little book.

 

TO ALL PARENTS

 

"I'll lend you for a little time

A child of Mine," He said;

"For you to love the while he lives

And mourn for when he's dead."

 

"It may be six or seven years

Or twenty-two or three;

But will you, 'till I call him back,

Take care of him for Me?"

 

"He'll bring his charms to gladden you

And should 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 return;

And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes

I have selected you."

 

"Now will you give him all your love,

Nor 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 should the angels call him

Much sooner than we've planned;

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes

and try to understand.' "

-Edgar A. Guest