Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A MOTHER TO HER WAKING INFANT, by JOANNA BAILLIE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A MOTHER TO HER WAKING INFANT, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now in thy dazzled half-oped eye
Last Line: Thou dost not heed my lay.
Subject(s): Children; Mothers; Childhood


Now in thy dazzled, half-oped eye,
Thy curled nose and lip awry,
Uphoisted arms and noddling head,
And little chin with crystal spread,
Poor helpless thing! what do I see
That I should sing of thee?

From thy poor tongue no accents come,
Which can but rub thy toothless gum:
Small understanding boasts thy face;
Thy shapeless limbs nor step nor grace:
A few short words thy feats may tell;
And yet I love thee well.

When wakes the sudden bitter shriek,
And redder swells thy little cheek;
When rattled keys thy woes beguile,
And through thy eyelids gleams the smile;
Still for thy weakly self is spent
Thy little silly plaint.

But when thy friends are in distress,
Thou 'lt laugh and chuckle ne'ertheless;
Nor with kind sympathy be smitten
Though all are sad but thee and kitten;
Yet, puny varlet that thou art,
Thou twitchest at the heart.

Thy smooth round cheek so soft and warm;
Thy pinky hand and dimpled arm;
Thy silken locks that scantly peep,
With gold-tipp'd ends, where circles deep,
Around thy neck in harmless grace
So soft and sleekly hold their place,
Might harder hearts with kindness fill,
And gain our right good will.

Each passing clown bestows his blessing,
Thy mouth is worn with old wives' kissing:
E'en lighter looks the gloomy eye
Of surly sense when thou art by;
And yet, I think, whoe'er they be,
They love thee not like me.

Perhaps when time shall add a few
Short months to thee, thou 'lt love me too;
And after that, through life's long way
Become my sure and cheering stay;
Wilt care for me and be my hold,
When I am weak and old.

Thou 'lt listen to my lengthen'd tale,
And pity me when I am frail --
-- But see! the sweepy swimming fly,
Upon the window takes thine eye,
Go to thy little senseless play;
Thou dost not heed my lay.





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