This Child

THIS CHILD

This child I see before my eyes
with tiny hand holds my fingers;
no older than a few minutes,
into our hearts such great joy brings.

When I look into that sweet face,
this child I see before my eyes,
that silly grin, and little smirk
is some of God’s most wondrous work

To hear that voice calling my name,
those little legs wildly running!
This child I see before my eyes,
leaps into my arms for hugging!

Lips pucker up to give a kiss.
my grandchild is pure happiness.
All too soon! she is fully grown;
This child I see before my eyes


A Quatern is a sixteen line French form composed of four quatrains. It has a refrain that is in a different place in each quatrain. The first line of stanza one is the second line of stanza two, third line of stanza three, and fourth line of stanza four. A quatern has eight syllables per line. It does not have to be iambic or follow a set rhyme scheme.