The Father

By Sir Ronald Ross

Come with me then, my son;

Thine eyes are wide for truth:

And I will give thee memories,

And thou shalt give me youth.

The lake laps in silver,

The streamlet leaps her length:

And I will give thee wisdom,

And thou shalt give me strength.

The mist is on the moorland,

The rain roughs the reed:

And I will give thee patience,

And thou shalt give me speed.

When lightnings lash the skyline

Then thou shalt learn thy part:

And when the heav’ns are direst,

For thee to give me heart.

Forthrightness I will teach thee;

The vision and the scope;

To hold the hand of honour:—

And thou shalt give me hope;

And when the heav’ns are deepest

And stars most bright above;

May God then teach thee duty;

And thou shalt teach me love.

Source: Father: An Anthology of Verse (EP Dutton & Company, 1931)