Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A GRANNY, by THOMAS WALSH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A GRANNY, by                    
First Line: The cross her withered fingers hold
Last Line: Here was thy meek, thy trusting, stainless heart.
Alternate Author Name(s): Gill, Roderick; Strange, Garrett
Subject(s): Death; Grandparents; Religion; Dead, The; Grandmothers; Grandfathers; Great Grandfathers; Great Grandmothers; Theology


THE cross her withered fingers hold
Within the coffin is not gold,
But since she pressed it day and night
Against her lips 'twas burnished bright;
Until the imaged Crucified
Took her soft whisper as she died.
Now as she lies there all her years
So filled with failures, and with tears
Grow half unreal; all her prayers,
The simple solace of her cares,
Yet on her lips; her mother-love
Surrendered only for a Heart Above.
Outside is spring with the song of bird
Between the vendors' outcries heard;
For town with country-side competes
Along the old-time suburb's street,
Where many a recent dweller eyes
The dusty coaches with surprise.
Then, while the quavering organ plays
Its solemn chant of ancient days,
Fresh from the parish school, the choir
Of children lisp Death's office dire;
And the sly, tousled, altar-boys
Use the big book and bell like toys.
Thus, candles flickering o'er her head,
Her hurried Requiem is said;
And Dies Irae sung once more.
They take her out the narrow door;
The few old neighbours kneel around,
Then leave her in the blesséd ground.—
How few that artless life bemoan
Which erred in tenderness alone!
Long was its humble course of pain
Through prayers, and tears, and prayers again,
Until her seared and whitened head
Felt the Great Dawning without dread.
O Love Eternal,—stand'st thou too apart?
Here was Thy meek, Thy trusting, stainless heart.





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