Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MONUMENT TO MRS. HOWARD, BY NOLLEKENS, by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH



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MONUMENT TO MRS. HOWARD, BY NOLLEKENS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Stretched on the dying mother's lap, lies dead
Last Line: And pain, hath powers to eternity endeared.
Subject(s): Death - Children; Mothers; Nollekens, Joseph (1737-1823); Sculpture & Sculptors; Death - Babies


(IN WETHERAL CHURCH, NEAR CORBY, ON THE BANKS OF THE EDEN)

STRETCHED on the dying Mother's lap, lies dead
Her new-born Babe; dire ending of bright hope!
But Sculpture here, with the divinest scope
Of luminous faith, heavenward hath raised that head
So patiently; and through one hand has spread
A touch so tender for the insensate Child --
(Earth's lingering love to parting reconciled,
Brief parting, for the spirit is all but fled) --
That we, who contemplate the turns of life
Through this still medium, are consoled and cheered;
Feel with the Mother, think the severed Wife
Is less to be lamented than revered;
And own that Art, triumphant over strife
And pain, hath powers to Eternity endeared.





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