Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BESIDE THE BARS, by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BESIDE THE BARS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Grandmother's knitting has lost its charm
Last Line: For the two who linger beside the bars.
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Death; God; Grandparents; Love - Loss Of; Old Age; Prayer; Dead, The; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers


GRANDMOTHER'S knitting has lost its charm;
Unheeded it lies in her ample lap,
While the sunset's crimson, soft and warm,
Touches the frills of her snowy cap.

She is gazing on two beside the bars,
Under the maple,—who little care
For the growing dusk, or the rising stars,
Or the hint of frost in the autumn air.

One is a slender slip of a girl,
And one a man in the pride of youth,—
The maiden pure as the purest pearl,
The lover strong in his steadfast truth.

"Sweet, my own, as a rose of June,"
He says full low, o'er the golden head.
It would sound to her like a dear old tune,
Could Grandmother hear the soft words said.

For it seems but a little while ago
Since under the maple, beside the bars,
She stood a girl, while the sunset's glow
Melted away 'mid the evening stars.

And one, her lover so bright and brave,
Spake words as tender in tones as low;
They come to her now from beyond the grave,
The words of her darling so long ago.

"My own one, sweet as the rose in June!"
Her eyes are dim, and her hair is white,
But her heart keeps time to the old love-tune
As she watches her daughter's child to-night.

A world between them, perhaps you say;
Yes—one has read the story through.
One has her beautiful yesterday,
And one, to-morrow fair to view.

And little you dream how fond a prayer
Goes up to God, through His silver stars,
From the aged woman gazing there,
For the two who linger beside the bars.





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