Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE OUTCAST MOTHER, by EMILY JANE BRONTE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE OUTCAST MOTHER, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: I've seen this dell in july's shine
Last Line: I cannot bear to watch thee die!
Alternate Author Name(s): Bell, Ellis
Variant Title(s): A Farewell To Alexandria
Subject(s): Mothers


I've seen this dell in July's shine
As lovely as an angel's dream;
Above, heaven's depth of blue divine;
Around, the evening's golden beam --

I've seen the purple heather-bell
Look out by many a storm-worn stone
And oh, I've known such music swell,
Such wild notes wake these passes lone --

So soft, yet so intensely felt,
So low, yet so distinctly heard,
My breath would pause, my eyes would melt
And my tears dew the green heath-sward --

I'd linger here a summer day
Nor care how fast the hours flew by
Nor mark the sun's departing ray
Smile sadly glorious from the sky --

Then, then I might have laid thee down
And deemed thy sleep would gentle be
I might have left thee, darling one
And thought thy God was guarding thee!

But now, there is no wandering glow
No gleam to say that God is nigh:
And coldly spreads thy couch of snow
And harshly sounds thy lullaby.

Forests of heather dark and long
Wave their brown branching arms above
And they must soothe thee with their song
And they must shield my child of love!

Alas the flakes are heavily falling
They cover fast each guardian crest;
And chilly white their shroud is palling
Thy frozen limbs and freezing breast

Wakes up the storm more madly wild
The mountain drifts are tossed on high --
Farewell unblessed, unfriended child,
I cannot bear to watch thee die!





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