Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MOTHERS OF MEN, by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MOTHERS OF MEN, by                    
First Line: I hold no cause worth my son's life,' one said
Last Line: Her son the dreamer's cross?
Subject(s): Mothers & Sons; World War I; First World War


"I hold no cause worth my son's life," one said—
And the two women with her as she spoke
Joined glances in a hush that neither broke,
So present was the memory of their dead.
And through their meeting eyes their souls drew near,
Linked by their sons, men who had held life dear
But laid it down for something dearer still.
One had wrought out with patient iron will
The riddle of a pestilence, and won,
Fighting on stricken, till his work was done
For children of tomorrow. Far away
In shell-torn soil of France the other lay,
And in the letter that his mother read
Over and over, kneeling as to pray—
"I'm thanking God with all my heart today,
Whatever comes" (that was the day he died)
"I've done my bit to clear the road ahead."
In those two mothers, common pain of loss
Blossomed in starry flowers of holy pride,
What thoughts were hers who silent stood beside
Her son the dreamer's cross?





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