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Poem
December 6, 1816
The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A lamenting poem depicting the solemn vigil at a father's deathbed, conveying grief, fear, hopeless care, and reverence for his noble character and final prayer.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
MISCELLANY.
FROM THE LAY OF MARIE.
THE FATHER'S DEATH-BED:
BY MATILDA BETRAM.
How solemn is the sick man's room
To friends or kindred lingering near;
Poring on that uncertain gloom
In silent heaviness and fear!
How sad, his feeble hand in thine,
The start of every pulse to share!
With painful haste each wish divine,
Yet feel the hopelessness of care!
To turn aside the full-fraught eye,
Lest those faint orbs perceive the tear!
To bear the weight of every sigh,
Lest it should reach that wakeful ear!
In the dead stillness of the night,
To lose the faint, faint sound of breath!
To listen in restrained affright,
To deprecate each thought of death
And when a movement chased that fear,
And give thy heart-blood leave to flow,
In thrilling awe the prayer to hear,
Thro' the closed curtain murmured low!
The prayer of him, whose holy tongue
Had never yet exceeded truth!
Upon whose guardian care had hung
The whole dependence of thy youth!
Who, noble, dauntless, frank and mild,
Was, for his very goodness feared;
Beloved with fondness, like a child,
And like a blessed Saint revered.
FROM THE LAY OF MARIE.
THE FATHER'S DEATH-BED:
BY MATILDA BETRAM.
How solemn is the sick man's room
To friends or kindred lingering near;
Poring on that uncertain gloom
In silent heaviness and fear!
How sad, his feeble hand in thine,
The start of every pulse to share!
With painful haste each wish divine,
Yet feel the hopelessness of care!
To turn aside the full-fraught eye,
Lest those faint orbs perceive the tear!
To bear the weight of every sigh,
Lest it should reach that wakeful ear!
In the dead stillness of the night,
To lose the faint, faint sound of breath!
To listen in restrained affright,
To deprecate each thought of death
And when a movement chased that fear,
And give thy heart-blood leave to flow,
In thrilling awe the prayer to hear,
Thro' the closed curtain murmured low!
The prayer of him, whose holy tongue
Had never yet exceeded truth!
Upon whose guardian care had hung
The whole dependence of thy youth!
Who, noble, dauntless, frank and mild,
Was, for his very goodness feared;
Beloved with fondness, like a child,
And like a blessed Saint revered.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Deathbed
Father
Mourning
Prayer
Reverence
What entities or persons were involved?
By Matilda Betram
Poem Details
Title
The Father's Death Bed
Author
By Matilda Betram
Subject
Father's Death Bed
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
How Solemn Is The Sick Man's Room
To Friends Or Kindred Lingering Near;
Poring On That Uncertain Gloom
In Silent Heaviness And Fear!
The Prayer Of Him, Whose Holy Tongue
Had Never Yet Exceeded Truth!
Upon Whose Guardian Care Had Hung
The Whole Dependence Of Thy Youth!
Who, Noble, Dauntless, Frank And Mild,
Was, For His Very Goodness Feared;
Beloved With Fondness, Like A Child,
And Like A Blessed Saint Revered.