Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HIS MOTHER, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HIS MOTHER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Dead! My wayward boy - my own
Last Line: Will you face us there?
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Death; God; Mothers; Dead, The


DEAD! my wayward boy -- my own --
Not the Law's! but mine -- the good
God's free gift to me alone,
Sanctified by motherhood.

"Bad," you say: Well, who is not?
"Brutal" -- "with a heart of stone" --
And "red-handed." -- Ah! the hot
Blood upon your own!

I come not, with downward eyes,
To plead for him shamedly, --
God did not apologize
When he gave the boy to me.

Simply, I make ready now
For His verdict. -- You prepare --
You have killed us both -- and how
Will you face us There?





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