I took my oath I would inquire, Without affection, hate, or wrath, Into the death of Ada Wright -- So help me God! I took that oath. When I went out to see the corpse, The four months' babe that died so young, I judged it was seven pounds in weight, And little more than one foot long. One eye, that had a yellow lid, Was shut -- so was the mouth, that smiled; The left eye open, shining bright -- It seemed a knowing little child. For as I looked at that one eye, It seemed to laugh, and say with glee: 'What caused my death you'll never know -- Perhaps my mother murdered me.' When I went into court again, To hear the mother's evidence -- It was a love-child, she explained. And smiled, for our intelligence. 'Now, Gentlemen of the Jury,' said The coroner -- 'this woman's child By misadventure met its death.' 'Aye, aye,' said we. The mother smiled. And I could see that child's one eye Which seemed to laugh, and say with glee: 'What caused my death you'll never know -- Perhaps my mother murdered me.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ROMANCE OF THE SWAN'S NEST by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE POET AND THE BABY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR JACK AND JILL (1) by MOTHER GOOSE ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 11. ON LOVE - TO A FRIEND by MARK AKENSIDE THE ELDER WOMAN'S SONG: 2, FR. KING LEAR'S WIFE by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |