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Ada Cambridge - "After Our Likeness"
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Before me now a little picture lies— 
    A little shadow of a childish face, 
    Childishly sweet, yet with the dawning grace 
Of thought and wisdom on her lips and eyes. 

Fair, oval, broad-brow`d face—small, delicate head— 
    Transparent skin, with blue veins shining through— 
    All the soft outlines, beautiful and true, 
Bring me the echo of the words "God said." 

Made "in our image"—sure `tis that we see, 
    God`s likeness, in the fair face of a child, 
    By the world`s sin and passion undefiled— 
Ay, as I look, it seems quite plain to me. 

The light wherein the little features shine, 
    Strange, mystic light, so undefined and faint, 
    So far too pure for any words to paint— 
`Tis a reflection of the Face divine. 

Some day the earthly shadows will be cast 
    Across that sunshine—it may be to dim 
    Awhile the visible countenance of Him; 
But `twill be there—the likeness—to the last. 

Some day the lucid waters, in which lie 
    Pictured those glorious lineaments, will be 
    Stirred up and troubled like a stormy sea;— 
But they will yet re-settle—by-and-by. 

They will re-settle when the soul is still`d, 
    Its passions, its wild longings, and its pain; 
    The pure reflection will shine out again 
When earth`s hopes are relinquish`d, unfulfill`d. 

They will re-settle in those after-years 
    When life`s hard lessons have been conned and learn`d; 
    When this child`s beauty will have all return`d, 
More lovely for the trouble and the tears. 

They will re-settle in the calm of death, 
    When the sweet eyes are laid asleep, and when 
    The heart is hush`d. Truly God`s likeness then— 
The mirror clear, unsullied by a breath. 

Ah! while I look, and trace each tender line, 
    I think most of the day when I shall see 
    The dear face in that perfect purity, 
Its mortal features clothed with the divine. 

This self-same face, but with the image bright, 
    Nevermore undefined, and faint, and dim; 
    This self-same face, yet like the face of Him, 
In glory and in beauty infinite.
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