Somewhile before the dawn I rose, and stept
    Softly along the dim way to your room
    And found you sleeping in the quiet gloom,
And holiness about you as you slept.
I knelt there; till your waking fingers crept
    About my head, and held it. I had rest
    Unhoped this side of Heaven, beneath your breast.
I knelt a long time, still; nor even wept.

It was great wrong you did me; and for gain
Or that poor moment’s kindliness, and ease,
and sleepy mother-comfort!
                                             Child, you know
How easily love leaps out to dreams like these,
Who has seen them true.    And love that’s wakened so
Takes all too long to lay asleep again.