Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ON MY FIRST DAUGHTER by BEN JONSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: HERE LIES TO EACH HER PARENTS' RUTH
Last Line: WHICH COVER LIGHTLY, GENTLE EARTH!
Subject(s): DAUGHTERS; DEATH - CHILDREN; PARENTS; DEATH - BABIES; PARENTHOOD;

Here lies, to each her parents' ruth [sorrow],
Mary, the daughter of their youth;
Yet all heaven's gifts being heaven's due,
It makes the father less to rue.
At six months' end she parted hence
With safety of her innocence;
Whose soul heaven's queen, whose name she bears,
In comfort of her mother's tears,
Hath placed amongst her virgin-train:
Where, while that severed doth remain,
This grave partakes the fleshly birth;
Which cover lightly, gentle earth!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net