Algernon Charles Swinburne

“ With all perception in a whirl,
⁠How could I tell the difference?
'Nay,' smiled the nurse, 'the child's a boy.'
⁠And all my soul was soothed to hear
That so it was: then startled Joy
⁠Mocked Sorrow with a doubtful tear.
And I was glad as one who sees
⁠For sensual optics things unmeet:
As purity makes passion freeze,
⁠So faith warns science off her beat. ”

“ To walk by faith, as preached the Dean,
⁠And not by sight, have I achieved.
Let love, that does not look, believe;
⁠Let knowledge, that believes not, look:
Truth pins her trust on falsehood's sleeve,
⁠While reason blunders by the book. ”

“ I knew the nurse began to grin;
⁠I turned to greet my Love. Said she—
'Confound your modesty, come in!
⁠—What shall we call the darling, V.?'
(There are so many charming names!
⁠Girls'—Peg, Moll, Doll, Fan, Kate, Blanche, Bab:
Boys'—Mahershahal-hashbaz, James,
⁠Kit, Nick, Dick, Mark, Aminadab.)
Lo, as the acorn to the oak,
⁠As well-heads to the river's height,
As to the chicken the moist yolk,
⁠As to high noon the day's first white—
Such is the baby to the man. ”