Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ORINDA UPON LITTLE HECTOR PHILIPS, by KATHERINE PHILIPS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ORINDA UPON LITTLE HECTOR PHILIPS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Twice forty months of wedlock I did stay
Last Line: The last of thy unhappy mothers verse.
Alternate Author Name(s): Orinda
Variant Title(s): On The Death Of My First And Dearest Child
Subject(s): Death - Children; Grief; Loss; Tears; Death - Babies; Sorrow; Sadness


I

Twice Forty moneths in wedlock I did stay,
Then had my vows crown'd with a lovely boy.
And yet in forty days he dropt away;
O! swift vicissitude of humane joy!

II

I did but see him, and he disappear'd,
I did but touch the Rose=bud, and it fell;
A sorrow unfore=seen and scarcely fear'd,
Soe ill can mortalls their afflictions spell.

III

And now (sweet Babe) what can my trembling heart
Suggest to right my doleful fate or thee?
Tears are my Muse, and sorrow all my Art,
So piercing groans must be thy Elogy.

IV

Thus whilst no eye is witness of my mone,
I grieve thy loss (Ah boy too dear to live)
And let the unconcerned World alone,
Who neither will, nor can refreshment give.

V

An Off'ring too for thy sad Tomb I have,
Too just a tribute to thy early Herse,
Receive these gasping numbers to thy grave,
The last of thy unhappy Mothers Verse.





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