Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BEREAVED, by JOSEPH SKIPSEY Poet's Biography First Line: One day as I came down by jarrow Last Line: "ah, soundly she'll sleep by their side!" Subject(s): Lament; Love - Loss Of | ||||||||
One day as I came down by Jarrow, Engirt by a crowd on a stone A woman sat moaning, and sorrow Seized all who took heed to her moan. "Nay, blame not my sad lamentation, But oh," she said, "let my tears flow, Offer me no consolation I know they are dead down below. "I heard the dread blast and I darted Away on the road to the pit, Nor stopped till my senses departed, And left me the wretch I sit. "Ah, thus let me sit," so entreated She those who'd have had her away; Then on the hard granite seated, Resumed her lament and did say: "My mother, poor body, would harry Me oft with a look sad and pale, When I had determined to marry The dimple-chin'd lad of the dale. "Not that she had any objection To one praised by each and all; But ay his lot caused a reflection That still her bosom would gall. "Nay, blame not my sad lamentation; My mother sleeps under the yew. She views not the dire desolation She dreaded one day I should view. "Bedabbled with blood are my tresses! No matter! Unlock not my hand! When first I enjoyed his caresses, Their hue would his praises command. "He'll never praise more locks nor features, Nor, when the long day-tide is o'er, With me view our two happy creatures, With bat and ball at the door. "Nay, chide not. A pair either bolder Or better nobody could see: They passed for a year or two older Than what I could prove them to be. "Their equals for courage and action Were not to be found in the place; And others might boast of attraction, But none had their colour or grace. "Their feelings were such, tho' when smitten By scorn oft their blood would rebel, They wept for the little blind kitten Our neighbour did drown in the well. "The same peaceful, calm, and brave bearing Had still been the father's, was theirs; And now we felt older wearing, We deemed they'd soon lighten our cares "So deemed I last night. On his shoulder I hung and beheld them at play: I dreamed not how soon they must moulder Down, down in their cold bed of clay. "Ah, chide not. This sad lamentation But endeth the burden began, When to the whole dale's consternation, Our second was crushed by the van. "That dark day the words of my mother In all the deep tone which had made Me like a wind-ridden leaf dother, Rang like the dead bell in my head. "Despair, the grim bird, away chidden, Would light on the house-top again; But still from my husband was hidden Each thought that had put him to pain. "He's pass'd from existence unharried By any forebodings of mine; Nor till we the lisper had buried, E'er pined he. But then he did pine. "Down when the shadow had fallen Across the long row gable-end, He miss'd him, as home from his calling With thrice weary bones he would wend. "No more would his heavy step lighten, No more would his hazel eyes glow, No more would his smutty face brighten At sight of the darling. Ah, no! "He lived by my bodings unharried, But when from his vision and mine Away the sweet lisper was carried, He pined, and long after would pine. "Ay, truly. And reason. The sonsy, The bairn with his hair bright and curled, He still had appeared to our fancy, The bonniest bairn in the world. "As ruddy was he as a cherry, With dimple on chin and on cheek; And never another as merry Was seen to play hide-and-go-seek. "He, yet, with his fun and affection, His canny bit pranks and his grace, He wheedled my heart from dejection, And put a bright look on my face. "Full oft upon one leg advancing, Across to the door he would go, Wheel round on his heel, then go dancing With hop after hop down the row. "When Let my hand go! When he perish'd, The rest were a balm to my woe: But now, what remains to be cherish'd? But now, what remains to me now? "Barely cold was the pet ere affected By fever they lay one and all; But lay not like others neglected; I slept not, to be at their call. "Day and night, night and day without slumber, I watched till weary and worn; When Death took the gem of the number, I'd barely strength left me to mourn. "I've mourn'd enough since. And tho' cruel Mishap like a curs'd hag would find Her way to my door still, the jewel Has seldom been out of my mind. "Another so light and so airy Ne'er gladden'd a fond mother's sight. I oft heard her called a wee fairy, And heard her so called with delight. "Whilst others played, by me she tarried, The cherub! and rumour avers That now-a-days many are married, With not half the sense that was hers. "Down on the hearth-rug sitting The long winter nights she was heard, The while her sweet fingers were knitting, To lilt out her lay like a bird. "Did I appear cross? To me stealing, Askance in my face she would keek, At which, e'er the victim of feeling, I could not but pat her bit cheek. "She once, when I'd pricked this hard finger No, he who in grave-clothes first slept No, she with the senses that linger I cannot tell which of them wept. "She vanished at last. Ah, an ocean Of trouble appeared that black cup; But what was it all to the potion I now am commanded to sup? "My husband, my bairnies, my blossoms! Well well, I am wicked yes, yes; But take my loss home to your bosoms, And say if your sin would be less? "My husband, my bairnies, my blossoms! Well, I'll not murmur, but still The anguish that teareth the bosom's Not to be bridled at will. "The dear ones to perish so sudden! 'Twas only last night, by the hearth, While I sat and mended their dudden, The bairnies were giddy with mirth. "Their cousin came in, and they hasten'd To hand her, and, handing the chair, The strings of her apron unfasten'd, And slipt the back comb from her hair. "On leaving, the lassie discovered The prank they upon her had play'd; Awhile hung her head, awhile hover'd, Then pinched both their noses and fled. "They laugh'd, clapt their hands, and the father, Yea, I too, had laugh'd with the rest; But something came o'er me which rather Brought sorrow than joy to my breast. "The dear ones to perish so sudden! Last night of all nights by the hearth, While I was mending their dudden, Why felt I no joy in their mirth?" "The supper was set, and being over I help'd them to bed, and I think, Once curl'd up aneath the green cover, They dover'd to sleep in a wink. "I too laid me down, heart weary, And when the birds rose from their bed, Somehow, by a dream dull and dreary, My eyes were fast lock'd in my head. "Aroused by their voices, and yearning To kiss them, I sprang to the floor; They kissed me, and bade me 'good morning,' Then whistled away from the door. "Long after away they had hurried, Their music rang in my ears; Then I thought of those we had buried, And thought of the jewels with tears. "Then I thought What said I? Thus thinking Was I, when rat-tat went the pane, And back into sense again shrinking, I into bed stumbled again. "Did I sleep? I did weep. To his calling The father had gone hours before, And now in that havoc appalling, He lies with the blossoms I bore. "Did I sleep? I did weep. Heart weary, How oft have I so wept before! I wept, and to weep, lone and dreary I've wandered the broken brick floor. "Did I sleep? Well, your kind arm, and steady My tottering steps, and now you Go, get out the winding-sheets ready, And do what remaineth to do. "Spread winding-sheets one for the father, And two for the darlings, our pride, And one for the wife and the mother, Ah, soundly she'll sleep by their side!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ROSE AND MURRAY by CONRAD AIKEN THOUGH WE NO LONGER POSSESS IT by MARK JARMAN THE GLORY OF THE DAY WAS IN HER FACE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON LOVE COME AND GONE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON CHAMBER MUSIC: 28 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 33 by JAMES JOYCE |
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