The widow stood beside her husband dead: He was a man of harsh and stubborn cast; Who hugg'd his selfish vices to the last, And scoff'd at faith, even on his dying bed. I spoke of love, and faith, and holy fear, And all a patient heart could bear and do: The mother listen'd with attentive ear, And the poor infant seem'd to listen too. She stretch'd her arms towards the psalm and prayer; Forward she lean'd, as if in earnest heed, And on the wond'rous sound attentive hung: What sweet and wistful innocence was there, Her open mouth and little wordless tongue, Which never utter'd or denied a creed! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO HIS MISTRESS by ROBERT HERRICK TWILIGHT by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW ON HIS BEING [OR, HAVING] ARRIVED AT THE AGE OF TWENTY-THREE by JOHN MILTON SHADOWS by WILLIAM HERVEY ALLEN JR. COTTON MILL FUNERAL by STEWART ATKINS |