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Poem
July 20, 1819
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A poignant narrative poem about a blind widowed mother cradling her infant son, expressing deep love and anguish in a prayer to God for temporary sight to behold his cherub face resembling his father's.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
From the Ladies' Literary Cabinet.
The Blind Mother.
I saw a mother in her arms
Her infant child was sleeping;
The mother, while the infant slept,
Her guardian watch was keeping.
Around its little tender form
Her snow white arm was flung,
And o'er its little infant head
Her bending tresses hung.
"Sleep sweetly on, my darling babe,
My own, my only child;"
And as she spoke the infant woke,
And on its mother smiled.
But, oh! no fondly answering smile
The mother's visage graced,
For she was blind, and could not see
The infant she embraced.
But now he lisped his mother's name,
And now the mother pressed
Her darling, much-loved baby boy,
Unto her widowed breast.
But sudden anguish seized her mind,
Her voice was sweetly wild;
"My God," she cried, "but grant me sight,
One hour! to see my child!
To look upon its cherub face,
And see its father's there;
But pardon, if the wish be wrong,
A widowed mother's prayer!"
And as she spoke, her anguish grew
More louder and more wild;
And closer to her aching breast
She clasped her orphan child.
E.R.Y.
Providence, June 8, 1819.
From the Ladies' Literary Cabinet.
The Blind Mother.
I saw a mother in her arms
Her infant child was sleeping;
The mother, while the infant slept,
Her guardian watch was keeping.
Around its little tender form
Her snow white arm was flung,
And o'er its little infant head
Her bending tresses hung.
"Sleep sweetly on, my darling babe,
My own, my only child;"
And as she spoke the infant woke,
And on its mother smiled.
But, oh! no fondly answering smile
The mother's visage graced,
For she was blind, and could not see
The infant she embraced.
But now he lisped his mother's name,
And now the mother pressed
Her darling, much-loved baby boy,
Unto her widowed breast.
But sudden anguish seized her mind,
Her voice was sweetly wild;
"My God," she cried, "but grant me sight,
One hour! to see my child!
To look upon its cherub face,
And see its father's there;
But pardon, if the wish be wrong,
A widowed mother's prayer!"
And as she spoke, her anguish grew
More louder and more wild;
And closer to her aching breast
She clasped her orphan child.
E.R.Y.
Providence, June 8, 1819.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Blind Mother
Widowed Anguish
Infant Smile
Maternal Prayer
Orphan Child
What entities or persons were involved?
E.R.Y.
Poem Details
Title
The Blind Mother.
Author
E.R.Y.
Subject
A Blind Widowed Mother And Her Infant
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
"My God," She Cried, "But Grant Me Sight,
One Hour! To See My Child!
To Look Upon Its Cherub Face,
And See Its Father's There;
But Pardon, If The Wish Be Wrong,
A Widowed Mother's Prayer!"