SINGING, skipping, shaking back Curls of gold, or brown, or black, From soft cheeks and laughing eyes— Careless, gay as butterflies— Comes a fair and girlish band Bearing flowers in lap and hand; Golden coltsfoot, primrose pale, Hyacinths from woody vale; Yellow willow buds, that smell Of the wild bee's honeyed cell; Daisies, dandelions strung, Round each neck and bosom hung. Sweet and swift run childhood's hours, Spent with streams, and trees, and flowers; One leads on a prattling brother, Baby sister bears another, Oft resigned to willing arms— Girls still doat on infant charms; How they hug and kiss her, crowing Babe, with health and beauty glowing. Your sweet voices, dear wee lassies, O'er my heart like music passes; Bonnetless and barefoot dancing, On your homeward path advancing Ah, your homes! your state is lowly, But your mission high and holy Shall be in the future, when, Mothers ye of future men, Wield a power within the nation, In the work of education, Which priests and sages, Peers and Commons, Cannot wield—that power is woman's. 'Tis not meetings, speeches, grants, Laying bare the crimes and wants Of your juvenile offenders— But the fact experience tenders, That the power above all others Youth to train is this, good mothers! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ROMANCE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH FIDO: AN EPISTLE TO FIDELIA by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) SECOND BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 16 by THOMAS CAMPION SONGS OF THE SEA CHILDREN: 9 by BLISS CARMAN WHAT WENT YE OUT TO SEE? by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH |