Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MATER DOLOROSA, by JAMES LEO DUFF


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MATER DOLOROSA, by                    
First Line: Last night I heard the keenin' at patrick connell's wake
Last Line: "and pray to god her heart will break, that she may die tonight!"
Subject(s): Death; Mothers & Sons; Mourning; Dead, The; Bereavement


LAST night I heard the keenin' at Patrick Connell's wake,
"O poor lad, O good lad—that you should have to go;
But then the Lord has given, an' sure the Lord may take—
Let Mary help his mother to bear the bitter woe!"

At dawn I heard the fishermen a-talkin' on the quay,
"A fine lad, a clean lad—that God may rest his soul;
" 'Twas well he knew the fishin' banks, 'twas well he loved the sea—
Let Mary help his mother to bear the bitter dole!

At noon I saw him buried upon the windy hill;
I saw the black earth cover the coffin from her sight—
O Mary, in your mercy, be kindly to her still
And pray to God her heart will break, that she may die tonight!"





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