|
|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BOOTLESS BAIRN, by PATRICK MACGILL Poet's Biography
First Line: Days of the whirling snowflakes, nights of the / weeping wind
Last Line: They fall on the bootless bairn, and crush the hapless child.
Subject(s): Death - Children; Death - Babies
First Line: Days of the whirling snowflakes, nights of the / weeping wind
Last Line: They fall on the bootless bairn, and crush the hapless child.
Subject(s): Death - Children; Death - Babies
DAYS of the whirling snowflakes, nights of the weeping wind,
That move to a gloomy future, that come from the dark behind,
Carry upon their bosoms the sorrows of hope defiled —
The wail of the bootless bairn, the cry of the hapless child.
Not for him is the Christmas and all the sweets it brings,
Nor does he share the New Year's hope of bright and beautiful things,
Ah, never for him is the festal board with Nature's bounties piled,
The wan-eyed bootless bairn — the poor, uncared-for child.
Oh! why do we prate of our glory and lightning lettered fame,
When the winds of the city roadways are breathing our people's shame?
And ev'ry castle builded is a hundred homes despoiled —
Our fame leaves the bairn bootless, our glory the hapless child.
Then it is ours to labour and help with the passing suns,
To brighten with word and action the lot of the little ones,
For the sins of our age hang heavy on defiler and defiled,
They fall on the bootless bairn, and crush the hapless child.
Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!
Other Poems of Interest...
THE LOST CHILDREN by RANDALL JARRELL
THE MOURNER by LOUISE MOREY BOWMAN
MELANCHOLY; AN ODE by WILLIAM BROOME
SISTERS IN ARMS by AUDRE LORDE
A BOTANICAL TROPE by WILLIAM MEREDITH
FOR MOHAMMED ZEID OF GAZA, AGE 15 by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE