Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THREE MOMENTS, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The child said: pretty bird Last Line: "oh happy thou!" Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina Subject(s): Birds; Children; Mothers; Pain; Tears; Childhood; Suffering; Misery | ||||||||
The Child said: "Pretty bird "Come back and play with me." The bird said: "It is in vain, "For I am free. "I am free, I will not stay, "But will fly far away, "In the woods to sing and play, "Far away, far away." The Child sought her Mother: "I have lost my bird;" said she Weeping bitterly: But the Mother made her answer, Half sighing pityingly, Half smiling cheerily: "Tho' thy bird come nevermore "Do not weep; "Find another playfellow "Child, and keep "Tears for future pain more deep." "Sweet rose do not wither," The Girl said. But a blight had touched its heart And it drooped its crimson head. In the morning it had opened Full of life and bloom, But the leaves fell one by one Till the twilight gloom. One by one the leaves fell By summer winds blown from their stem; They fell upon the dewy earth Which nourished once now tainted them. Again the young Girl wept And sought her Mother's ear: "My rose is dead so full of grace, "The very rose I meant to place "In the wreath that I wear." "Nay, never weep for such as this;" The Mother answered her: "But weave another crown, less fair "Perhaps, but fitter for thy hair. "And keep thy tears," the Mother said: "For something heavier." The Woman knelt; but did not pray Nor weep nor cry; she only said: "Not this, not this:" and clasped her hands Against her heart and bowed her head While the great struggle shook the bed. "Not this, not this:" tears did not fall: "Not this:" it was all She could say; no sobs would come; The mortal grief was almost dumb. -- At length when it was over, when She knew it was and would be so, She cried: "Oh Mother, where are they, "The tears that used to flow "So easily? one single drop "Might save my reason now, or stop "My heart from breaking. Blessed tears "Wasted in former years!" Then the grave Mother made reply: "Oh Daughter mine be of good cheer, "Rejoicing thou canst shed no tear. "Thy pain is almost over now. "Once more thy heart shall throb with pain, "But then shall never throb again. "Oh happy thou who canst not weep, "Oh happy thou!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PARTHENOPHIL AND PARTHENOPHE: MADRIGAL 14 by BARNABE BARNES SONNETS IN SHADOWS: 1 by ARLO BATES IN PRAISE OF PAIN by HEATHER MCHUGH THE SYMPATIZERS by JOSEPHINE MILES LEEK STREET by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR IT IS FINISHED' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ITALIA, IO TI SALUTO!' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS' (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |
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