![]() |
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CHRISTMAS EVE, SOUTH, 1865, by MARY TUCKER LAMBERT Poet's Biography First Line: Poverty, remorseless spectre Last Line: For heaven is real, and earth deceiving. Alternate Author Name(s): Tucker, Mary Eliza Perine Subject(s): American Civil War; Christmas; Reconstruction (1865-1876); Southern States; United States - History; Nativity, The; South (u.s.) | |||
POVERTY, remorseless spectre, Reigns throughout our once fair land, And he wields no fancy sceptre, In his iron-covered hand. Stifled sighs our hearts are rending, Thanks for peace -- with want contending. Widows, orphans, homeless, dreary, Call in vain for earthly aid, -- There is rest for all the weary, On Him, let your cares be stayed. He his helpless ones protecting, Who abideth his directing. 'Tis the merry Christmas even, Hallowed throughout all the earth; Angels, too, rejoice in Heaven, O'er the blessed Saviour's birth. Yet many are sad vigils keeping For those who all unknown are sleeping. Children hush their eager voices, They by instinct seem to feel, That the heart which now rejoices Must, indeed, be cased in steel. Yet still they turn with bitter sighing, To where their little socks are lying. "Mother! mother! darling mother! Please don't weep so any more; We are left you, I and brother, We don't care if we are poor. Now, mother, darling, stop your weeping, And kiss as ere we both are sleeping." Rosy sleep at last has bound them; Now they revel in their dreams; "Santa Claus" now hovers round them, Showering o'er them fairy gleams Darlings, what is life but dreaming? Grasp a pleasure -- 'tis but seeming. Mother! kneel in adoration, That thou hast some comfort left; Send forth, now, thy invocation For the sad of all bereft. With faith in God, in Christ believing, For Heaven is real, and earth deceiving. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MYSTIC RIVER by GALWAY KINNELL ENTERING THE SOUTH by LUCILLE CLIFTON SNAPSHOTS OF THE COTTON SOUTH by FRANK MARSHALL DAVIS JULY IN GEORGY by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON O SOUTHLAND! by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON MY SOUTH: 1. ON THE PORCH by DONALD JUSTICE MY SOUTH: 3. ON THE FARM by DONALD JUSTICE |
|