1700-1702
Oft in midnight visions
Ghostly by my bed
Stands a Father’s image,
Pale discrowned head:–
–I forsook thee, Father!
Was no child to thee!
Child-forsaken Mother,
Now ’tis so with me.
Oft I see the brother,
Baby born to woe,
Crouching by the church-wall
From the bloodhound-foe.
Evil crown’d of evil,
Heritage of strife!
Mine, an heirless sceptre:
His, an exile life!
–O my vanish’d darlings,
From the cradle torn!
Dewdrop lives, that never
Saw their second morn!
Buds that fell untimely,–
Till one blossom grew;
As I watch’d its beauty,
Fading whilst it blew.
Thou wert more to me, Love,
More than words can tell:
All my remnant sunshine
Died in one farewell.
Midnight-mirk before me
Now my life goes by,
For the baby faces
As in vain I cry.
O the little footsteps
On the nursery floor!
Lispings light and laughter
I shall hear no more!
Eyes that gleam’d at waking
Through their silken bars;
Starlike eyes of children,
Now beyond the stars!
Where the murder’d Mary
Waits the rising sign,
They are laid in darkness,
Little lambs of mine.
Only this can comfort:
Safe from earthly harms
Christ the Saviour holds them
In His loving arms:–
Spring eternal round Him,
Roses ever fair:–
Will His mercy set them
All beside me there?
Will their Angels guide me
Through the golden gate?
–Wait a little, children!
Mother, too, must wait!
(Francis Turner Palgrave)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, Life Poems, Fairness Poems, Cry Poems, Beauty Poems, Spring Poems, Mothers Poems, Fathers Poems, Children Poems, Brothers Poems, Sign & Symbol PoemsBased on Keywords: starlike, discrowned, lispings, church-wall