ROTHA, my Spiritual Child! this head was grey When at the sacred font for thee I stood; Pledged till thou reach the verge of womanhood, And shalt become thy own sufficient stay: Too late, I feel, sweet Orphan! was the day For stedfast hope the contract to fulfil; Yet shall my blessing hover o'er thee still, Embodied in the music of this Lay, Breathed forth beside the peaceful mountain Stream Whose murmur soothed thy languid Mother's ear After her throes, this Stream of name more dear Since thou dost bear it, -- a memorial theme For others; for thy future self, a spell To summon fancies out of Time's dark cell. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOMESDAY BOOK: JANE FISHER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE DISAPPOINTMENT by APHRA BEHN THE WILD GAZELLE by GEORGE GORDON BYRON AFTER THE LAST BREATH (J.H. 1813-1904) by THOMAS HARDY THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON TO THE SAME PURPOSE by THOMAS TRAHERNE AH, BIND MY HANDS by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS |