| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 848. Faith Trembling |
| | | By Mary Ainge De Vere (“Madeline Bridges”) |
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| WERE I a happy bird, | |
| Building my little nest each early spring, | |
| It might be easy then to keep God’s word, | |
| His praise to sing; | |
| Easy to live content, | 5 |
| Tending my little ones,—of love secure, | |
| Knowing no agony for time misspent, | |
| Or thought impure! | |
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| Were I a butterfly, | |
| A bright-winged creature of the sunshine born, | 10 |
| Idle and lovely I could live and die | |
| Without self-scorn; | |
| I need not fear | |
| To take my utmost will of summer sweet; | |
| Nor dread, when the swift end came near, | 15 |
| My Judge to meet! | |
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| If I were only made | |
| Patient, and calm, and pure, as angels are, | |
| I had not been so doubtful,—sore afraid | |
| Of sin and care; | 20 |
| It would seem sweet and good | |
| To bear the heavy cross that martyrs take, | |
| The passion and the pain of womanhood | |
| For my Lord’s sake. | |
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| But strong, and fair, and young, | 25 |
| I dread my glowing limbs,—my heart of fire, | |
| My soul that trembles like a harp full strung | |
| To keen desire! | |
| O, wild and idle words! | |
| Will God’s large charity and patience be | 30 |
| Given unto butterflies and singing birds, | |
| And not to me? | |
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