God, pity broken little families Where there were four and now there are but three; Where there were three and now there are but one or two; Pray, comfort these as Thou alone canst do. Send peace to houses where there is a crib, Too wrinkleless its wild-rose-bordered spread, Too smooth its pillow that, brief days ago, Hollowed to hold a tiny, curl-framed head; Or where an untouched place is laid above An empty chair, facing which one must sit And sup alone; or where a chintz-hung room No more has gay, untidy youth in it; Or where a curtain now hangs straight that long Was knotted up so that a fragile hand Might wave to neighbors as they came and went Past two tired eyes across the wintry land. . . God, teach all broken little families To bear such losses self-conqueringly. . . Understanding each other, day by day, more instinctively, Forbearing each other, day by day, more patiently, Growing, day by day, more closely into oneness with each other. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DEATH OF SLAVERY by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT VALENTINES TO MY MOTHER: 1877 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE SEA-LIMITS by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE VALLEY OF FERN: PART 1 by BERNARD BARTON LINES WRITTEN ... ONE WHO HAD WATCHED .. AMERICAN & FRENCH REVOLUTIONS by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE MEADOW STREAM by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN A SISTER OF SORROW: 3. WEDDING-EVE by GORDON BOTTOMLEY THE HERON BALLADS: 1. FIRST BALLAD IN THROAT by ROBERT BURNS |