Featured Poem: A Child in the Garden by Henry Van Dyke

Our Featured Poem comes this week from American author, educator and clergyman Henry Van Dyke, and was one of the poems enjoyed at our recent staff Think Day at Calderstones Mansion House - a place that is surrounded by 'gardens of untroubled thought'.

Take a few moments of peace and reflection - and perhaps even conjure up some fond childhood memories - this Monday morning.

A Child in the Garden

When to the garden of untroubled thought
I came of late, and saw the open door,
And wished again to enter, and explore
The sweet, wild ways with stainless bloom inwrought,
And bowers of innocence with beauty fraught,
It seemed some purer voice must speak before
I dared to tread that garden loved of yore,
That Eden lost unknown and found unsought.

Then just within the gate I saw a child, --
A stranger-child, yet to my heart most dear;
He held his hands to me, and softly smiled
With eyes that knew no shade of sin or fear:
"Come in," he said, "and play awhile with me;"
"I am the little child you used to be."

Henry Van Dyke