Poetry Friday

George MacDonald (1824-1905) was an amazingly versatile man who wrote fantasy novels, poetry, sermons, lit crit and much more. (Here's a Wikipedia entry full of interesting factoids and quotes.)

One of his poems, Baby, touches me because although at first glance it appears to be just a sentimental little piece, possibly too precious for the taste of some, for me it's a sharp reminder that my life and the things I've been given are out of my hands ... it took this former atheist a long time to grasp the idea that God's choices for me are far better than anything I could've imagined or planned.

Michael Card adapted this poem for his song, "All You Are" on his Sleep Sound in Jesus album. My sister-in-law gave me the CD when Anne was a baby and I loved its lullabies. But I also listened to the song "All You Are" whenever I needed to remind myself that my children were not put on this earth to deprive me of sleep, or for any other devious reason, but in order to give me a great gift. Whenever I felt that I was nearing a breaking point of any kind, I turned to this gentle song for the reminder that my children are tangible heavenly pearls, gems created with me in mind:

How can it be that you are you?
He thought you up and so you grew
Because you're mine it must be true
That He was also thinking of me, too.

~~ Michael Card

And, the poem that inspired the lullaby:


Baby

by George MacDonald


Where did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into the here.

Where did you get those eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.

Where did you get that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand strok’d it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?
I saw something better than any one knows.

Whence that three-corner’d smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get this pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?
Love made itself into bonds and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherubs’ wings.

How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so I grew.

But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought about you, and so I am here.

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Today's Poetry Friday roundup is here, at AmoXcalli.