Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TWO SONS, by ROBERT WILLIAMS BUCHANAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TWO SONS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I have two sons, wife
Last Line: We cannot lose the darling son who sits upon your knee!
Alternate Author Name(s): Maitland, Thomas
Subject(s): Mothers; Sons


I HAVE two sons, wife --
Two, and yet the same;
One his wild way runs, wife,
Bringing us to shame.
The one is bearded, sunburnt, grim, and fights across the sea,
The other is a little child who sits upon your knee.

One is fierce and cold, wife,
As the wayward deep;
Him no arms could hold, wife,
Him no breast could keep.
He has tried our hearts for many a year, not broken them; for he
Is still the sinless little one that sits upon your knee.

One may fall in fight, wife --
Is he not our son?
Pray with all your might, wife,
For the wayward one;
Pray for the dark, rough soldier, who fights across the sea,
Because you love the little shade who smiles upon your knee.

One across the foam, wife,
As I speak may fall;
But this one at home, wife,
Cannot die at all.
They both are only one; and how thankful should we be,
We cannot lose the darling son who sits upon your knee!





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