It fell upon a summer day,
when Jesus walked in Galilee,
the mothers from a village
brought their children to his knee.

He took them in his arms, and laid
his hands on each remembered head;
'Allow these little ones to come
to me,' he gently said.

'Forbid them not: unless ye bear
the childlike heart your hearts within,
unto my kingdom ye may come,
but may not enter in.'

My Lord, I fain would enter there;
O let me follow thee, and share
thy meek and lowly heart, and be
freed from all worldly care.

O happy thus to live and move,
and sweet this world, where I shall find
God's beauty everywhere, his love,
his good in humankind.

Then, Father, grant this childlike heart,
that I may come to Christ, and feel
his hands on me in blessing laid,
love-giving, strong to heal.


Stopford Augustus Brooke (1832-1916) alt.