(Air: La rose mousse or: Le fil de la Vierge.)
1. Happy little Children, with what tenderness
The King of Heaven
Once blessed you and showered you with caresses
Your joyful brows!
Of all the Innocents you were the figure
And I foresee
The goods that in Heaven gives you without measure
The King of Kings.
2. You have contemplated the immense riches
Heaven
Before knowing our bitter sorrows
Dear little Lilies.
O scented buttons! harvested at dawn
By The Lord
The sweet Sun of Love that knew how to make you hatch
It was his heart!...
3. What ineffable care, what exquisite tenderness
And what love
Prodigal to you with joy our Mother Church
Children of a day!...
In her maternal arms, you were the first fruits
Offered to God
All eternity you will delight
Beautiful blue sky.
4. Children, you compose the virginal procession
Sweet lamb
And you can say again, amazing privilege
A new song!
You are without fights reached glory
Conquerors;
The Savior has won the victory for you
Charming winners!
5. We do not see shining precious stones
In your hair
Only the golden reflection of your silky curls
Ravish the Heavens......
The treasures of the Chosen, their palms, their crowns
It's all up to you
In the Holy Fatherland, Children, your rich thrones
Are their knees...
6. Together you play with the little angels
near the altar
And your childish songs, graceful knuckles
Charm Heaven.
The Good Lord teaches you how He makes roses
The bird, the winds
Down here no genius knows so many things
That you, Children!...
7. From the azure firmament lifting all veils
Mysterious
In your little hands you take the stars
With a thousand fires.
As you run you leave a silver trail
Often in the evening
When I contemplate the white milky way in the sky
I think I see you...
8. In the arms of Mary after all these parties
You come running
Under her starry veil hiding your blond heads
You are sleeping.
Charming little Elves, your childish audacity
Please the Lord
You dare to caress his Adorable Face..........
What a favour!...
9. You are the model the Lord gave me
Holy Innocents
I want to be your faithful image down here
Small children.
Ah! deign to obtain for me the virtues of childhood.
your candor,
Your perfect surrender, your lovable innocence
Charm my heart.
10. O Lord! you know of my exiled soul
The ardent wishes
I would like to reap, beautiful lily of the valley
Shining Lilies
These spring buttons, I look for them and love them
For your pleasure
On them deign to pour the Dew of Baptism
Come pick them up....
11. Yes, I want to increase the candid phalanx
The innocent
My sufferings, my joys, I offer them in exchange
Of children's souls.
Among these Innocents, I claim a place
King of the Chosen.
Like them, I want in Heaven, to kiss your Sweet Face
O my Jesus!....
Dating: December 28, 1896
Recipient: Therese herself.
In September, she composed a remembrance image of her 4 siblings who died in infancy; here is a powerful poetic complement.
