Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CHILD, by THEODOSIA (PICKERING) GARRISON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CHILD, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I heard her crying in the night
Last Line: A child -- and sent her back to him!
Alternate Author Name(s): Faulks, Frederick J., Mrs.
Subject(s): Children; Mothers; Childhood


I HEARD her crying in the night, --
So long, so long I lay awake,
Watching the moonlight ebb and break
Against the sill like waves of light.

I tried to close my eyes nor heed
And lie quite still -- but oh, again
The little voice of fright and pain
Sobbed in the darkness of her need.

Strange shadows led me down the stair;
Creaked as I went the hollow floor;
I drew the bolts and flung the door
Wide, wide and softly called her there.

Ah me, as happy mothers call
Through tender twilights to the gay,
Glad truant making holiday
Too long beyond the evenfall.

The garden odors drifted through,
The scent of earth and box and rose,
And then, as silently as those,
A little wistful child I knew.

So small, so frightened and so cold,
Ah, close, so close I gathered her
Within my arms, she might not stir,
And crooned and kissed her in their hold.

As might a happy mother, when,
Aghast for some quaint, trifling thing,
One runs to her for comforting,
And smiles within her arms again.

All night upon my heart she lay,
All night I held her warm and close,
Until the morning wind arose
And called across the world for day.

The garden odors drifted through
The open door; as still as they
She passed into the awful day,
A little, wistful child I knew.

Think you for this God's smile may dim
(His are so many, many dead)
Seeing that I but comforted
A child -- and sent her back to Him!





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