Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Lost Babies" by Rosa Mulholland is a touching and tender poem that captures the theme of motherly love and compassion, framed within a Christian context.

Rosa Mulholland (also known as Lady Gilbert after her marriage), was born on October 19, 1841, in Belfast, Ireland, and died on April 21, 1921.

The imagery in the poem paints a vivid and colorful scene. It opens with a dreamy landscape of a lake that resembles purple wine, a golden sun setting behind the hills, and a solitary star shining on the ridge. It sets the mood for something magical and celestial, preparing the reader for the transcendent vision that follows.

The speaker glimpses through a "rift in Heaven's blue floor" and sees the Virgin Mary, surrounded by baby angels who are described as young earth-born wanderlings. These children, from all directions of the earth, have been recently gathered into Mary's fold and granted wings of various beautiful colors.

The depiction of Mary's gentle and loving care for these lost children, kissing them and allowing them to rest on her breast, imbues the poem with warmth and tenderness. The children's cries of being motherless and lost, and the subsequent tear in Mary's eye, evoke a strong sense of empathy and sadness.

Mary's assurance to the children that their earthly mothers are following them and her comforting words to stay close to her until they arrive adds a poignant layer to the poem. It speaks to the universal theme of a mother's love and the belief in a compassionate heavenly figure who cares for those who are lost and alone.

The poem's gentle rhythm, alluring imagery, and tender sentiment make it an evocative piece that may resonate with readers, particularly those who identify with its spiritual themes. It reflects an idealized vision of love and loss that transcends earthly pain, offering comfort and hope.

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