For Those Who’ll Greet This Tiny Child

Snapdragon and violets alongside showers of flowers with fancy spots
Advancing shiny beetles, jaunty, leaping dogs and wild forget-me-nots
Hollyhocks and roses, this arching, yawny, golden cat, sweet columbine
Await your entrance softly as I hold you loving close, dear baby mine.

Warm breezes dry uncoiling worms, our slippy slugs and fragile snails
A falling apple, high-flying clouds, bright laughter and infrequent wails
Here for you too, my sweet, the curious robin and many a dancing friend
Greet you, embrace you as, with dawning eye, on these you will depend.

The prowling, green-eyed, glinty fox acknowledging your own grand arrival
Parades our hedge wherein shy, hidden creatures cling to their survival
Darting birds, the shaded mouse and countless creatures jumping, leaping
A host of life to thrill you as, now glancing, I catch you dreaming, sleeping.

Here in this garden place, beloved child, you’ll sing and dance and play
For, as God wills it, our natural world shall blessings grant this day.