Classic and Contemporary Poetry
QUEEN BERTHA'S ALMS, by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE Poet's Biography First Line: Glad as that thrill some princely birth Last Line: "a kiss is all I have for thee." Subject(s): Payerne, Switzerland | ||||||||
GLAD as that thrill some princely birth With hushed yet rapturous omen gracing, The stir, as from her palace forth The young fair queen came pacing. But here no pompous guard was set, No flattering concourse gathered round; The poor about her gate were met; The readiest place the poorest found. Like youthful angels, all alert The queen dispensed her bounteous load; On those whom keenest fates had hurt, Her earlier gifts bestowed. Her face the maniac's rage beguiled; She turned her now among the ring, And paused above a poor blind child The sweetest of her songs to sing. Kind gifts to some, kind words to more, Kind looks to each and all she gave, Which on with them through life they bore, And down into their grave. Around her feet the children crept, And kissed the grass those feet had trod, Whilst eyes that many a year had wept, With tears of gladness gemmed the sod. The chiming of the convent bells Called her at last away to prayer: Farewell she smiled on their farewells -- And turned; when, unaware, An old gray man with hands outspread She marked low bent on quivering knee; Over his brow she stooped and said, "A kiss is all I have for thee." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BALLAD OF ATHLONE; OR, HOW THEY BROKE DOWN THE BRIDGE by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE A BALLAD OF SARSFIELD; OR, THE BURSTING OF THE GUNS by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE DIRGE OF RORY O'MORE; 1642 by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE HUMAN LIFE by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE SORROW by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE THE SUN GOD by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE A CHARACTER by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE AN EPICUREAN'S EPITAPH by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE CARDINAL MANNING by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE COLERIDGE by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE |
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