O SAINTED spirit of my parent dear,
Like ills with these I feel, you never knew;
For under eye of loving mother rear’d,
A father excellent, devout, exact,
And favour’d with protection of those guides
Of infant days, and inexperienc’d years;
Beneath their wings arriv’d at age mature,
Ere adverse fate your humble dwelling chang’d.
Upon a much lov’d youth was then bestow’d,
Whose conduct has thro’ life him worthy prov’d.
Oh! such a partner! virtuous and discreet.
Alas! for me, too soon she left the earth;
But for herself, remov’d to richer soil,
To bliss perpetual, and triumphant joy.
Far other scenes has been your daughter’s lot:
No mother’s watchful, unremitting care,
To form the genius of my youthful mind,
Or smooth the rigour of afflicted hours.
The loss of other friends, while young in years,
And the neglect of those who yet remain’d,
With various ills my life severely tried.
Originating thus from this sole cause,
Without a guide, was thrown on the world’s stage,
And wanting skill to shun dissembling fraud,
With sorrows complicate my heart prob’d deep.
The autumn of my days already come;
For lurking cares long since my bloom decay’d,
And wasted hath my youth before its time.
For many months, my strength debilitate,
With sickly languor, or corroding pain;
And when on bed of languishing confin’d,
No relative to succour in distress,
Each anxious thought, by soft persuasion sooth.
Or point the way to where they soon must end;
Thus kindly mixing in the cup of woe,
A palliative with the bitter draught;
Then wipe the big drop from the palid cheek,
Or spread the couch for weary head to rest.
Instead of these attentions from my own,
Which much affliction renders doubly dear,
The chief part of my life ‘mong strangers been,
And none but strangers in my griefs have shared.
(Margaretta Wedderburn)
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Based on Topics: World Poems, Mind Poems, Sadness Poems, Time Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Youth Poems, Friendship Poems, Thought & Thinking Poems, Pain Poems, Fathers Poems, Age PoemsBased on Keywords: prob, complicate, inexperienc, originating, palliative, palid, debilitate