The Horizon (A conversation between a child and its mother) - Frans Michael Franzén

"See! where to earth bends down the sky! 

See how the morning clouds up-roIlcd 

Tinge the far forest with their gold. 

And we delay — both thou and I, 

To go to heaven, my mother dear, 

When every day it is ho near."

"Come," said the mother, "no delaying — 

Come, let us go then"; and they went, 

On heavenly objects both intent, — 

And onwards through the woodlands straying, 

'Mid shadows soft and purple light 

Seemed Paradise itself in sight.

"How bcautiful! This sure must he 

Eden itself; what fruit! what flowers; 

And yet — Heaven is not in these bowers, 

O'er church and moor it seems to flee. 

Far off I see the golden cloud 

With splendor all the village shroud."

"My child, while thou on earth sojournest 

Will Heaven elude thy eager quest; 

Where'er thy steps may be addressed; 

Whether to North or South thou turnest. 

Where the sun rises or descends 

Still to heaven's gate thy travel tends. 

"Hearest thou that voice in mid air pealing? 

Us doth it to God's house invite, 

This is his day; on this his light, 

Comfort and peace he is revealing. 

There stands his church in day’s clear flame; 

Thy heart within it glow the same. 

"Come, child, the world thou must explore, 

From Paradise thou too must go

And as we thus roam onward, so 

Thy whole life's region travel o'er. 

And when thy pilgrimage is done 

Heaven will not fly thee, but be — won."

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Frans Michael Franzén (1772 – 1847) Finland and Sweden

Translator not stated

Source: The Poets And Poetry Of Europe by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1887