Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OUR LITTLE GIRL, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OUR LITTLE GIRL, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Her heart knew naught of sorrow
Last Line: "our little girl again!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Death; Girls; Life; Dead, The


Her heart knew naught of sorrow,
Nor the vaguest taint of sin --
'Twas an ever-blooming blossom
Of the purity within:
And her hands knew only touches
Of the mother's gentle care,
And the kisses and caresses
Through the interludes of prayer.

Her baby-feet had journeyed
Such a little distance here,
They could have found no briers
In the path to interfere;
The little cross she carried
Could not weary her, we know,
For it lay as lightly on her
As a shadow on the snow.

And yet the way before us --
O how empty now and drear! --
How ev'n the dews of roses
Seem as dripping tears for her!
And the song-birds all seem crying,
As the winds cry and the rain,
All sobbingly, -- "We want -- we want
Our little girl again!"






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