Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ALL-KIND MOTHER, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ALL-KIND MOTHER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Lo, whatever is at hand
Last Line: "at her merciful ""arise!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Flowers; Lilies; Mothers; Nature


LO, whatever is at hand
Is full meet for the demand:
Nature ofttimes giveth best
When she seemeth chariest.
She hath shapen shower and sun
To the need of every one --
Summer bland and winter drear,
Dimpled pool and frozen mere.
All thou lackest she hath still
Near thy finding and thy fill.
Yield her fullest faith, and she
Will endow thee royally.

Loveless weed and lily fair
She attendeth here and there --
Kindly to the weed as to
The lorn lily teared with dew.
Each to her hath use as dear
As the other; an thou clear
Thy cloyed senses thou may'st see
Haply all the mystery.
Thou shalt see the lily get
Its divinest blossom; yet
Shall the weed's tip bloom no less
With the song-bird's gleefulness.

Thou art poor, or thou art rich --
Never ligntest matter which;
All the glad gold of the noon,
All the silver of the moon,
She doth lavish on thee, while
Thou withholdest any smile
Of thy gratitude to her,

Baser used than usurer.
Shame be on thee an thou seek
Not her pardon, with hot cheek,
And bowed head, and brimming eyes
At her merciful "Arise!"





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