OFF to the college my only son went; I loved him as mothers do-- He was bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh, And blood of my heart-blood too. Returning, he kissed me and praised the old place And said he would make him a name: Brave, splendid, and loyal, my son had come back-- But he had not come back the same. Out into the world my only son went; I prayed and I hoped and I grieved For all he must pass through, and how I rejoiced When he won!--I had always believed. He made me a visit and said that to him I was dearer than riches or fame: How true and how tender the boy that came back!-- But he had not come back the same. For in years that had passed I had shared all his hopes, All his joys, all his woes, all his play; I had slaved for him, borne for him, suffered for him, And been all his comfort and stay. But how shrunken my part in his life has become! I grieve, without anger or blame, That his need for me's gone, that his need for me's gone.-- He'll nevermore be the same. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE TO EVENING by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) MOONLIT APPLES by JOHN DRINKWATER LOVERS HOW THEY COME AND PART by ROBERT HERRICK TO - (2) by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY CORTEGE FOR ROSENBLOOM by WALLACE STEVENS SLEEPING AND WAKING by JANE BARLOW ST. PAUL'S DAY, 1925 by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB |