Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TWO MOTHERS, by JOHN LAWSON STODDARD Poet's Biography First Line: One night two lonely women met Last Line: "would god that mine were dead!" Subject(s): Grief; Mothers; Sailing & Sailors; Sea; Tears; Sorrow; Sadness; Ocean | ||||||||
One night two lonely women met Beside a storm-swept bay; With tears their mournful eyes were wet, Their pale lips salt with spray; They passed; then turned, as though each yearned Some friendly word to say. "Poor soul", cried one, "hast thou no fear To walk this haunted strand? What hopeless sorrow brings thee here, Where dead men drift to land? I too have grief beyond relief; Speak! I can understand." "I mourn a son", the other said; "That ocean is his grave; My heart will not be comforted, It breaks with every wave; Would I might sleep in yonder deep With him I could not save! "The wind was raging, as to-night; Straight on these rocks it blew; I watched until the dawning light Disclosed the wreck to view; From where we stand I saw his hand Wave me a last adieu! "He deemed the boat too frail to bear Another living freight; 'Push off'! he said with tranquil air, 'Go first, and I will wait;' But all the while, despite his smile, He knew 'twould be too late. "That heartless crew shall nevermore God's absolution find! They watched, like cravens, from the shore The man they left behind Go down before the breakers' roar, The surges and the wind! "Hence, when such maddened tempests rave, I cannot rest at home, For then the billows deck his grave With flowers of snow-white foam; And here I pray till break of day Beneath night's starless dome." A silence fell; then, faint and low, The other, weeping, said; "My heavier woe thou needst not know; Within his ocean bed On thy son's name there rests no shame; Would God that mine were dead!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HALL OF OCEAN LIFE by JOHN HOLLANDER JULY FOURTH BY THE OCEAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS BOATS IN A FOG by ROBINSON JEFFERS CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE FIGUREHEAD by LEONIE ADAMS A MAY MONODY by JOHN LAWSON STODDARD |
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