The Sleepless Jesus + 

’Tis time to sleep, my little boy: + 

Why gaze thy bright eyes so? + 

At night our children, for new joy + 

Home to thy father go, + 

But thou art wakeful! Sleep, my child; + 

The moon and stars are gone; + 

The wind is up and raving wild, + 

But thou art smiling on! + 

My child, thou hast immortal eyes + 

That see by their own light; + 

They see the children’s blood⁠—it lies + 

Red-glowing through the night! + 

Thou hast an ever-open ear + 

For sob or cry or moan: + 

Thou seemest not to see or hear, + 

Thou only smilest on! + 

When first thou camest to the earth, + 

All sounds of strife were still; + 

A silence lay about thy birth, + 

And thou didst sleep thy fill: + 

Thou wakest now⁠—why weep’st thou not? + 

Thy earth is woe-begone; + 

Both babes and mothers wail their lot, + 

But still thou smilest on! + 

I read thy face like holy book; + 

No hurt is pictured there; + 

Deep in thine eyes I see the look + 

Of one who answers prayer. + 

Beyond pale grief and wild uproars, + 

Thou seest God’s will well done; + 

Low prayers, through chambers’ closed doors, + 

Thou hear’st⁠—and smilest on. + 

Men say: “I will arise and go;” + 

God says: “I will go meet:” + 

Thou seest them gather, weeping low, + 

About the Father’s feet; + 

And each for each begin to bear, + 

And standing lonely none: + 

Answered, O eyes, ye see all prayer! + 

Smile, Son of God, smile on. + 