A Child Is Born - A Ballad Stanza

The Death of Casagemas - Picasso, 1901

A child is born, a mother cries

And mourns: “Life is your foe,

A sharpened knife; and comfort is

Neither above nor below.”

A man, a knight in armour bright,

Conquers the world: “I grow;

My might the night enlightens; I

Command above and below."

A man with greying hair is wiser,

With reason rises: “A flow

Of thoughts unknown and I can now

Glimpse above and below."

A man, on his deathbed lies, and prays:

“Creator, Saviour, Oh!...

Redeem my soul, my love embrace,

You, me: Above, not below.”

How cruel and bitter is the world,

To babies, bairns! They learn

How sinful nature burns and fuels

The soul. For more, they yearn.

How sweet, how deep the final rest,

The sunset, Heaven’s nest!

With God man meets. His soul shall be

Forever pressed against His chest.  

 © Alex B.H., 2012