Child, is thy father dead? Father is gone! Why did they tax his bread? God's will be done! Mother has sold her bed; Better to die than wed! Where shall she lay her head? Home we have none! Father clamm'd thrice a week, God's will be done! Long for work did he seek, Work he found none. Tears on his hollow cheek Told what no tongue could speak: Why did his master break? God's will be done! Doctor said air was best, Food we had none; Father, with panting breast, Groan'd to be gone: Now he is with the blest -- Mother says death is best! We have no place of rest -- Yes, ye have one! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SPELLIN' BEE by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: MRS. BENJAMIN PANTIER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS ODE [FOR MUSIC] ON ST. CECILIA'S DAY by ALEXANDER POPE UNDERWOODS: BOOK 1: 25. MOTHER AND SON by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON PENTUCKET [AUGUST 29, 1708] by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |