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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE TENT ON THE BEACH: 5. THE CHANGELING, by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: For the fairest maid in hampton Last Line: Came forth from ipswich jail. Subject(s): Hampton, New Hampshire | |||
FOR the fairest maid in Hampton They needed not to search, Who saw young Anna Favor Come walking into church, -- Or bringing from the meadows, At set of harvest-day, The frolic of the blackbirds, The sweetness of the hay. Now the weariest of all mothers, The saddest two-years bride, She scowls in the face of her husband, And spurns her child aside. "Rake out the red coals, goodman, -- For there the child shall lie, Till the black witch comes to fetch her, And both up chimney fly. "It's never my own little daughter, It's never my own," she said; "The witches have stolen my Anna, And left me an imp instead. "She'll come when she hears it crying, In the shape of an owl or bat, And she'll bring us our darling Anna In place of her screeching brat." Then the goodman, Ezra Dalton, Laid his hand upon her head: "Thy sorrow is great, O woman! I sorrow with thee," he said. "The paths to trouble are many, And never but one sure way Leads out to the light beyond it: My poor wife, let us pray." Then he said to the great All-Father, "Thy daughter is weak and blind; Let her sight come back, and clothe her Once more in her right mind." Then into the face of its mother The baby looked up and smiled; And the cloud of her soul was lifted, And she knew her little child. A beam of the slant west sunshine Made the wan face almost fair, Lit the blue eyes' patient wonder, And the rings of pale gold hair. She kissed it on lip and forehead, She kissed it on cheek and chin, And she bared her snow-white bosom To the lips so pale and thin. Oh, fair on her bridal morning Was the maid who blushed and smiled, But fairer to Ezra Dalton Looked the mother of his child. With more than a lover's fondness He stooped to her worn young face, And the nursing child and the mother He folded in one embrace. "Blessed be God!" he murmured. "Blessed be God!" she said; "For I see, who once was blinded, -- I live, who once was dead. "Now mount and ride, my goodman, As thou lovest thy own soul! Woe's me, if my wicked fancies Be the death of Goody Cole!" His horse he saddled and bridled, And into the night rode he, -- Now through the great black woodland Now by the white-beached sea. He rode through the silent clearings, He came to the ferry wide, And thrice he called to the boatman Asleep on the other side. He set his horse to the river, He swam to Newbury town, And he called up Justice Sewall In his nightcap and his gown. And the grave and worshipful justice (Upon whose soul be peace!) Set his name to the jailer's warrant For Goodwife Cole's release. Then through the night the hoof-beats Went sounding like a flail; And Goody Cole at cockcrow Came forth from Ipswich jail. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE TENT ON THE BEACH: 2. THE WRECK OF RIVERMOUTH by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER HAMPTON TOWN by ABBIE FARWELL BROWN AMY WENTWORTH; FOR WILLIAM BRADFORD by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER AN AUTOGRAPH (1) by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER ASTRAEA by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER AT LAST by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER AT PORT ROYAL by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER BARBARA FRIETCHIE [SEPTEMBER 13, 1862] by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER BARCLAY OF URY by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER BENEDICITE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER BROWN OF OSSAWATOMIE [DECEMBER 2, 1859] by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |
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