Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FOLDED HANDS, by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER Poet's Biography First Line: Pale, withered hands that more than four- / score years Last Line: So dwells the mother in the best of lands. Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs. Subject(s): Death; Heaven; Prayer; Dead, The; Paradise | ||||||||
PALE, withered hands that more than four-score years Had wrought for otherssoothed the hurt of tears, Rocked children's cradles, eased the fever's smart, Dropped tenderest balm in many an aching heart Now stirless folded, like wan rose - leaves pressed Above the snow and silence of her breast. In mute appeal they tell of labors done And well-earned rest that came with set of sun; From the worn brow the lines of care are swept As if an angel's kiss the while she slept Had smoothed the cobweb wrinkles quite away And given back the peace of childhood's day. A smile is on the lips as if she said, "None know life's secret save the happy dead." And, gazing where she lies, we feel that pain And parting cannot cleave her soul again. And we are sure that they who saw her last In that dim vista which we call the past, Who never knew her old and weary-eyed, Remembering best the maiden and the bride, Have sprung to greet her with the olden speech, The dear sweet names no later love can teach, And "Welcome Home"they cried, and grasped her hands So dwells the mother in the best of lands. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE END OF LIFE by PHILIP JAMES BAILEY SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 6 by CONRAD AIKEN THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#19): 2. MORE ABOUT THE DEAD MAN AND WINTER by MARVIN BELL THE WORLDS IN THIS WORLD by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR A SKELETON FOR MR. PAUL IN PARADISE; AFTER ALLAN GUISINGER by NORMAN DUBIE BEAUTY & RESTRAINT by DANIEL HALPERN HOW IT WILL HAPPEN, WHEN by DORIANNE LAUX IF THIS IS PARADISE by DORIANNE LAUX ARE THE CHILDREN AT HOME? by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER |
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