There is another reason why, Great God, I want to pass your sky, And pass your gate, and search the throng, And seek one voice in heaven's song, And walk the streets, and ev'rywhere Until I find my mother there -- There is another reason why: Because, when I have found her, I Shall say: "My mother, I am here To ask forgiveness, Mother dear -- Not ask forgiveness of the Throne, To ask forgiveness of your own. "For once I scoffed at things you said; And many a night you bowed your head And prayed for me -- and prayed in vain -- And yet tomorrow prayed again. Yes, many a hair of gray you wore That God shall make me answer for. "For once I scoffed at counsel, scorned The mother-love that wept and warned; Yes, once I laughed at wisdom, turned Away from where your candle burned To follow through the crimson nights The brighter glow of dancing lights. "And then one morning I awoke -- And, Mother, it was truth you spoke. The lights were out, the roses dead -- Oh, Mother, it was truth you said. My better self that better dawn Came home again -- but you were gone." And that's the other reason why, Great God, when mine the hour to die, I long to enter heaven. Let Me tell her, tell her even yet -- Although I be a soul accursed, Oh, let me see my mother first! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GROWN-UP TALK by KATHERINE MANSFIELD EVENING SONG OF THE THOUGHTFUL CHILD by KATHERINE MANSFIELD I MAY, I MIGHT, I MUST by MARIANNE MOORE DRUMS AND BRASS by DONALD (GRADY) DAVIDSON FOR OUR BETTER GRACES by JAMES GALVIN NOTES FOR THE FIRST LINE OF A SPANISH POEM by JAMES GALVIN HOPE (1) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE GOLDEN WEDDING OF STERLING AND SARAH LANIER by SIDNEY LANIER |