Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MOTHER'S CHAIR, by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MOTHER'S CHAIR, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The century's day had just begun
Last Line: As she rests in the prim little rocking-chair.
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Babies; Grandparents; Mothers; Infants; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers


THE century's day had just begun
When the bride, as shy as a small gray mouse,
Came home one eve at the set of sun,
To reign a queen in a wee bit house;
A wee bit house, but love was there,
And its throne was the bride's small rocking-chair.

Time fared along, and the rocking-chair
Kept pace with the rise and fall of a tune
That the little mother carolled there,
Slowly and sweetly, rune and croon,
Mother and baby and rockaby,
As the busy and beautiful years flew by.

And the wee bit house was a crowded nest
That was left one day for a statelier home,
But the small chair stood in its place with the best,
Throne for the mother, whoe'er might come.
Babies and babies were cradled there
In her tender arms in that rocking-chair.

The years sped on like the waves in a race,
And small grandchildren fluttered in;
The dear old hearth was the rallying-place
For a bevy of youthful kith and kin.
Always the centre, standing there
Was the dear little mother's rocking-chair.

Like sifted snowflakes the days trooped on,
Till the mother heard the angels call;
One sunrise broke with the mother gone—
Only to heaven—that was all.
But, oh, it was lonely lingering where
We knelt to her in her little chair.

And one of the youngest of all the line,
A gay girl, just out of college, sits
In that same old chair, and in shade and shine
A look of her great-grandmother flits
Over her face, so sweet and fair,
As she rests in the prim little rocking-chair.





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