One Little Lantern

There stands one little lantern in every child's chest,

whose glow is caught a-flickering in their upturned gaze;

Right words will stoke that lamp-light, to endure race and rest,

and help it keep a-glimmering, over the long, early days.

Life, in time, will put that candle to many a battering test -

and tempt the flame to die - or explode, a harmful blaze.

But one thing spoken kindly may become a heart's long guest,

And tend that little lantern: for love's ever a lasting phrase.