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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LITTLE NORA, OR THE PORTRAIT by CHARLES TENNYSON TURNER

First Line: I ASK'D OF LITTLE NORA, BUT HE DREW
Last Line: STILL NURSED HER PILE OF SUMMER-WREATHS AND SMILED.
Subject(s): DEATH - CHILDREN; DEATH - BABIES;

I ask'd of little Nora, but he drew
A piteous sigh - his answer did not come;
My friend stood gazing on his daughter's tomb,
Till, with a sudden shame, I saw it too;
At last he said: 'She died three moons ago':
So long entomb'd had little Nora been,
So long I knew not of her father's woe!
Then came her portrait forth, which I had seen,
And he had shown with pride, when last we met;
The same bright smile - the rose-o'erladen arms,
And all her pretty sum of infant-charms;
But lo! a fair memorial tress was set,
Facing the porcelain picture, where his child
Still nursed her pile of summer-wreaths and smiled.



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