Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BACK TO MOTHER'S ARMS, by FRANCES DANA BARKER GAGE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BACK TO MOTHER'S ARMS, by                    
First Line: Silent and lone, silent and lone
Last Line: Back to your mother's arms, back to the home?
Alternate Author Name(s): Fanny, Aunt
Subject(s): Mothers


SILENT and lone, silent and lone!
Where, tell me where are my little ones gone?
There are no little faces to wash to-night,
No little troubles for mother to right,
No little blue eyes to be sung to sleep,
No little playthings to be put up to keep,
No little garments to hang on the rack,
No little tales to tell, no nuts to crack,
No little trundle-beds brimful of rollick,
Calling for mamma to settle the frolic,
No little soft lips to press me with kisses--
Oh! such a sad, lonely evening as this is;
No little voices to shout with delight,
"Good night, dear mamma, good night, good night."
Silent the house is, no little ones here,
To startle a smile or chase back a tear.

Silent and lone, silent and lone!
Where, tell me where are my little ones gone?
It seemeth but yesterday since they were young;
Now they are all scattered the world's paths among;
Out where the great rolling tide-stream is flowing,
Out where new firesides with love-light are glowing,
Out where the graves of their life-hopes are sleeping,
Not to be comforted,--weeping, still weeping,
Out where the high hills of science are blending,
Up mid the cloud-rifts--up, up, still asceading,
Seeking the sunshine that rests on the mountain;
Drinking and thirsting still, still at the fountain;
Out in life's thoroughfare, all of them moiling,
Out in the wide world, striving and toiling,
Little ones, loving ones, playful ones all,
That went when I bade and came at my call,
Have you deserted me? Will you not come
Back to your mother's arms, back to the home?





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