(IN WETHERAL CHURCH, NEAR CORBY, ON THE BANKS OF THE EDEN) STRETCHED on the dying Mother's lap, lies dead Her new-born Babe; dire ending of bright hope! But Sculpture here, with the divinest scope Of luminous faith, heavenward hath raised that head So patiently; and through one hand has spread A touch so tender for the insensate Child -- (Earth's lingering love to parting reconciled, Brief parting, for the spirit is all but fled) -- That we, who contemplate the turns of life Through this still medium, are consoled and cheered; Feel with the Mother, think the severed Wife Is less to be lamented than revered; And own that Art, triumphant over strife And pain, hath powers to Eternity endeared. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY PRETTY ROSE TREE, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE ONLY A WOMAN by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK CINQUAIN: NIGHT WINDS by ADELAIDE CRAPSEY A HYMN [TO THE NAME AND] IN HONOR OF SAINT TERESA by RICHARD CRASHAW AN ESSAY ON MAN by ALEXANDER POPE HEATHER ALE: A GALLOWAY LEGEND by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON |