I HAVE two sons, wife -- Two, and yet the same; One his wild way runs, wife, Bringing us to shame. The one is bearded, sunburnt, grim, and fights across the sea, The other is a little child who sits upon your knee. One is fierce and cold, wife, As the wayward deep; Him no arms could hold, wife, Him no breast could keep. He has tried our hearts for many a year, not broken them; for he Is still the sinless little one that sits upon your knee. One may fall in fight, wife -- Is he not our son? Pray with all your might, wife, For the wayward one; Pray for the dark, rough soldier, who fights across the sea, Because you love the little shade who smiles upon your knee. One across the foam, wife, As I speak may fall; But this one at home, wife, Cannot die at all. They both are only one; and how thankful should we be, We cannot lose the darling son who sits upon your knee! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FRANCIS II, KING OF NAPLES; SONNET by AMY LOWELL VILLANELLE OF CHANGE by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON PENULTIMATE PURITAN by HELEN L. BARNES EMANCIPATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, APRIL 16, 1862 by JAMES MADISON BELL THE ASYLUM by WILLIAM ROSE BENET ON H----YS FRIENDSHIP by WILLIAM BLAKE |