COLD was the night wind, drifting fast the snows fell, Wide were the downs and shelterless and naked, When a poor wanderer struggled on her journey Weary and way-sore. Drear were the downs, more dreary her reflections; Cold was the night wind, colder was her bosom! She had no home, the world was all before her, She had no shelter. Fast o'er the bleak heath rattling drove a chariot, 'Pity me!' feebly cried the poor night-wanderer. 'Pity me, strangers! lest with cold and hunger Here I should perish. 'Once I had friends,—but they have all forsook me! Once I had parents,—they are now in heaven! I had a home once—I had once a husband— Pity me, strangers! 'I had a home once—I had once a husband— I am a widow poor and broken-hearted!' Loud blew the wind, unheard was her complaining, On drove the chariot. On the cold snows she laid her down to rest her; She heard a horseman, 'pity me!' she groaned out; Loud blew the wind, unheard was her complaining, On went the horseman. Worn out with anguish, toil and cold and hunger, Down sunk the wanderer, sleep had seized her senses; There did the traveller find her in the morning, God had released her. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RODNEY'S RIDE [JULY 3, 1776] by ELBRIDGE STREETER BROOKS HOW WE BEAT THE FAVOURITE by ADAM LINDSAY GORDON ON THE DEATH OF DR. SWIFT by JONATHAN SWIFT THE WINDING ROAD by CHARLOTTE LOUISE BERTLESEN SYMBOL OF OUR COUNTRY by MAUD MCKINSEY BUTLER |