For Aaron

Joy's Child

He comes as a wave cresting in delight,

His laughter like an infant God's at play

Rings the stars and sets the world aright,

This sudden breeze that cools the fiery day.

His tiny hands enfold themselves in mine

And happiness descends into my veins,

His kiss a poetry at once divine

All-love his gift in sweetest godlike strains.

With his embrace all false anxiety

And clinging sorrow far from me is cast,

His griefless eyes speak of an ecstasy

When soul aware of present and of past

Takes up again the reins of consciousness

Eager to explore the far unfound.

Then too, there is a streak of wilfulness

And mischief testing the uncertain ground

Of his elders moral ambiguity.

This child of joy my soul to rapture wakes,

Caught in his aureate net of wizardry,

As through his golden frame God's splendour breaks.