Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO MRS. D.S., ON THE BIRTH OF SIDNEY, HER SECOND SON, by WILLIAM HAMMOND Poet's Biography First Line: May rest drown all thy pains; but never sleep Last Line: Them fully act the praise I faintly told! Subject(s): Birth; Child Birth; Midwifery | ||||||||
DEAR NIECE, MAY rest drown all thy pains; but never sleep Thy painful merits. Whilst feet verses keep, And Muses wings, they shall along, and blow Thy fame abroad, whilst time shall circuits go To judge strifes elemental, and arouse The drowsy world to mind this noble spouse. How opportunely her heroic fruit, Waiving her own, doth our torn sex recruit: Two boys have sprung from her womb's lively mould, Ere both the parents forty summers told. She might such human goddesses produce, As might the relaps'd world again amuse Into Idolatry, and justify Bright Cypria's fable, each poetic lie Old Greece, or any modern lover, made To deify the beauty of a maid. But the prizing her mate 'bove her own eyes, Him rather with his likeness gratifies; The reason, if a poet may divine, Why all her blossoms quicken masculine Is, that her brethren, never extant seen, But possible, by Fate have kindred been Into her flesh, which flowers in virgin snow Benumb'd, slept in their winter cause, till now That nuptial Sun approach'd, whose piercing ray Op'ning their urn, recall'd them into day. On this trade angels wait, and on their wing Created souls into new bodies bring. What power hath Love, that can set Heaven a task To make a gem, when he prepares the cask? And if well set, or void of heinous flaw, Ordain'd by the Creator's gracious law For his own wearing, which himself will own An ornament even to his burnish'd crown. On then, fair spouse, and ease the pangs of birth By thinking you enrich both Heaven and Earth. Think you may live till they in honour's sphere Brighter than the Tindaridae appear; And then you cannot die! the lives you gave, They amply will repay, despoil the grave Of your immortal name: may you behold Them fully act the praise I faintly told! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHY I AM AFRAID OF TURNING THE PAGE by CATE MARVIN ACCIDENTS OF BIRTH by WILLIAM MEREDITH ONE FOR ALL NEWBORNS by THYLIAS MOSS CURRICULUM VITAE by LISEL MUELLER FOUND IN THE CABBAGE PATCH by LISEL MUELLER A DIALOGUE UPON DEATH; PHILLIS AND DAMON by WILLIAM HAMMOND |
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