Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BABY OVER THE WAY, by WASHINGTON GLADDEN Poet's Biography First Line: Across in my neighbor's window Last Line: Of the house that's over the way. Subject(s): Babies; Infants | ||||||||
ACROSS in my neighbor's window, With its drapings of satin and lace, I see, 'neath a crown of ringlets, A baby's innocent face. His feet in their wee red slippers Are tapping the polished glass, And the crowd in the street look upward, And nod and smile as they pass. Just here in my cottage window, In the rays of the noonday sun, With a patch on his faded apron, Stands my own little one. His face is as pure and handsome As the baby's over the way, And he keeps my heart from breaking At my toiling every day. Sometimes when the day is ended, And I sit in the dusk to rest, With the face of my sleepy darling Hugged close to my lonely breast, I pray that my neighbor's baby May not catch heaven's roses, all; But that some may crown the forehead Of my loved one as they fall. And when I draw the stockings From his little tired feet, And kiss the rosy dimples In his limbs so round and sweet, I think of the dainty garments Some little children wear, And frown that my God withholds them From mine, so pure and fair. May God forgive my envy, I knew not what I said; My heart is crushed and humbled: My neighbor's boy is dead. I saw the little coffin As they carried it out to-day; A mother's heart is breaking In the mansion over the way. The light is fair in my window, The blossoms bloom at my door; My boy is chasing the sunbeams That dance on the cottage floor; The roses of health are blushing On my darling's cheek to-day; But baby is gone from the window Of the house that's over the way. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A POET TO HIS BABY SON by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON BABYHOOD by ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN INFANCY by EDMUND JOHN ARMSTRONG BALLAD OF THE LAYETTE by WAYNE KOESTENBAUM A TOAST FOR LITTLE IRON MIKE by PAUL MARIANI THE PAMPERING OF LEORA by THYLIAS MOSS ONE FOR ALL NEWBORNS by THYLIAS MOSS IN THE THRIVING SEASON by LISEL MUELLER |
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