I saw a beggar woman bare Her bosom to the winter air; And into the tender nest Of her famished mother-breast She laid her child; And him beguiled, With crooning song into his rest. With crooning song, and tender word, About a little singing bird, That spread soft wings about her brood! And tore her bosom for their food! And sang the while, Them to beguile, All in the forest's solitude! And, hearing this, I could not see That she was clad in misery! For in her heart there was a glow Warmed her bare feet in the snow! In her heart was hid a sun Would warm a world for everyone! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET TO TARTAR, A TERRIER BEAUTY by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE WILD RIDE by LOUISE IMOGEN GUINEY BURIAL OF THE MINNISINK by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE WHITE HOUSE by CLAUDE MCKAY THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE: CANTO 1 by JAMES THOMSON (1700-1748) TO A CERTAIN CIVILIAN by WALT WHITMAN THE INNOCENT THIEF by VINCENT BOURNE |