Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SIX SORROWS, by DORA SIGERSON SHORTER Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: There are six sorrows in my heart Last Line: Six sorrows all my own. Alternate Author Name(s): Sigerson, Dora; Shorter, Mrs. Clement Subject(s): Children; Grief; Parents; Childhood; Sorrow; Sadness; Parenthood | ||||||||
THERE are six sorrows in my heart Red Allen, Clare, and Joan, Sweet Bet, and Jock, and little Roy; Six sorrows all my own. Red Allen was my first-born son, How dear he was to see, The first sweet babeand now he lies Beneath the church-yard tree. My little Clare, and pretty Joan, Sleep, too, in wind and rain, But never do I wake at night To wish them home again. Oh, never do I wake at night To call them home again. I have three sorrows in my breast To drown my heart in tears, My Betty, Jock, and little Roy, To shade my waning years. My sunshine Bet, she made her choice A good man he, and true; And 'neath my fond contented eyes Their pretty courtship grew. When, from the winding road, a foot Stole by my garden gate, And by my door a honey voice Did whisper long and late. And oft a cloth of lavender Young pedlar John would bear, And oft a silken ribbon long To bind my child's soft hair. Oh, bitter was the secret shame He hid beneath his load, My sunshine Bet is far away Upon the gypsies' road. My pretty Bet has strayed away Upon the winding road. I have two sorrows in my heart, To wear me night and day My Jock, and little Roy, who runs Beside my knee at play. My six-foot Jock, in all the town No lad was like to him, What mother's heart could hold my pride Though joy my eyes would dim. Then I could weep but happy tears, They soothe not now my grief, The burning anguish of my heart Has quenched that font's relief. One morn his brow on me did frown, His ready laugh grew still, Full late it was when he came home, In silence from the hill. "Where have you been, my son so dear, So long, so late !" I cried, "To seek a little lamb who strayed Upon the bleak hill-side." "What dyes so red, my child, my son, The plaid about your breast?" "'Tis where the wounded lamb did lie, And here its heart-beat pressed." "There come four men about the gate, Their looks are stern and cold?" "They do but seek the little lamb That died beyond the fold." "Then I shall make the window fast, And I shall bar the door; Oh, fear is bitter at my heart, And I can bear no more." "You may not bar the oaken door, Nor make the window fast; But you shall pray for my lost soul, As long as life shall last." "For I must go with those who wait About the door with me, Since I have slain my own false love Beneath the linden tree. Oh, I have slain my faithless love, Beneath the linden tree." I have one sorrow in my heart, My Roy, who sleeps so sound. Oh, will the wide world call this babe, Or holds the grave his shroud? Oh, shall I grieve his golden youth, Or weep him in his shroud? I have six sorrows in my heart, Red Allen, Clare, and Joan, Sweet Bet, and Jock, and little Roy Six sorrows all my own. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY PARENTS HAVE COME HOME LAUGHING by MARK JARMAN BIRTHDAY (AUTOBIOGRAPHY) by ROBINSON JEFFERS LOOKING IN AT NIGHT by MARY KINZIE THE VELVET HAND by PHYLLIS MCGINLEY CURRICULUM VITAE by LISEL MUELLER CIVILIZING THE CHILD by LISEL MUELLER MISSING THE DEAD by LISEL MUELLER THE WIND ON THE HILLS by DORA SIGERSON SHORTER |
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