"Oh how little seems the span
Measured round the life of man."
When considering how big everything in the world is, the describer also realized how small he and his human counterparts must seem in the scheme of things. Impacting the theme that we are all so small and what seems to long to us seems like a second to eternity, the line shows an accurate representation of the author's point of view on the world.
"The burning throne of God."
The narrator of this poem seems to think that the throne of God is burning, but this is most likely meant to be taken symbolically. Not actually is His throne burning, but He may have a hot temper for what the narrator is about to ask, be abusing His power, or simply doing something that the narrator doesn't particularly like.
"I do not ask they shall never tread
With weary feet the paths of pain.
I ask that in the darkest hour
They may faithful and true remain."
The mother in this poem is obviously a very caring one, but she has lived a hard life and wants her children to face the harsh reality of the world. Therefore, she asks that they can grow up in hard times like she did, because they need to work long and hard for any success they may ever had. She says, above all, that the most important thing they do is to have faith in their Lord in times of trouble, because this, in her opinion, is more important that anything else.
