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Poem
September 10, 1840
Virginia Free Press
Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
A lyrical poem portraying a dying person's attachment to life's beauties through the changing seasons—spring, summer, autumn, winter, and returning spring—culminating in their peaceful death, suggesting greater happiness beyond.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE CHILD OF EARTH.
Fainter her slow step falls from day to day.
Death's hand is heavy on her darkening brow;
Yet doth she fondly cling to earth and say,
"I am content to die, but oh! not now!
Not while the blossoms of the joyous spring
Make the warm air such luxury to breathe;
Not while the birds such lays of gladness sing:
Not while bright flowers around my footsteps wreathe.
Spare me, great God! lift up my drooping brow!
I am content to die—but oh! not now!"
The spring hath ripen'd into summer-time.
The season's viewless boundary is past;
The glorious sun hath reach'd his burning prime:
Oh! must this glimpse of beauty be the last?
"Let me not perish while o'er land and sea
With silent steps the lord of light moves on;
Nor while the murmur of the mountain bee
Greets my dull ear with music in its tone!
Pale sickness dims my eye, and clouds my brow;
I am content to die—but oh! not now!"
Summer is gone, and autumn's soberer hues
Tint the ripe fruits, and gild the waving corn;
The huntsman swift the flying game pursues,
Shouts the halloo, and winds his eager horn.
"Spare me awhile to wander forth and gaze
On the broad meadows and the quiet stream,
To watch in silence while the evening rays
Slant through the fading trees with ruddy gleam.
Cooler the breezes play around my brow;
I am content to die—but oh! not now!"
The bleak wind whistles, snow-showers, far and near,
Drift without echo to the whitening ground,
Autumn hath passed away, and, cold and drear,
Winter stalks on, with frozen mantle bound.
Yet still that prayer ascends: "Oh! laughingly
My little brothers round the warm hearth crowd,
Our home-fire blazes broad, and bright, and high,
And the roof rings with voices glad and loud.
Spare me awhile! raise up my drooping brow!
I am content to die—but oh! not now!"
The Spring is come again—the joyful spring!
Again the banks with clustering flowers are spread:
The wild bird dips upon its wanton wing:-
The child of earth is number'd with the dead!
"Thee never more the sunshine shall awake,
Beaming all redly thro' the lattice-pane;
The steps of friends thy slumbers may not break,
Nor fond familiar voice arouse again!
Death's silent shadow veils thy darken'd brow:
Why didst thou linger?—thou art happier now!"
Fainter her slow step falls from day to day.
Death's hand is heavy on her darkening brow;
Yet doth she fondly cling to earth and say,
"I am content to die, but oh! not now!
Not while the blossoms of the joyous spring
Make the warm air such luxury to breathe;
Not while the birds such lays of gladness sing:
Not while bright flowers around my footsteps wreathe.
Spare me, great God! lift up my drooping brow!
I am content to die—but oh! not now!"
The spring hath ripen'd into summer-time.
The season's viewless boundary is past;
The glorious sun hath reach'd his burning prime:
Oh! must this glimpse of beauty be the last?
"Let me not perish while o'er land and sea
With silent steps the lord of light moves on;
Nor while the murmur of the mountain bee
Greets my dull ear with music in its tone!
Pale sickness dims my eye, and clouds my brow;
I am content to die—but oh! not now!"
Summer is gone, and autumn's soberer hues
Tint the ripe fruits, and gild the waving corn;
The huntsman swift the flying game pursues,
Shouts the halloo, and winds his eager horn.
"Spare me awhile to wander forth and gaze
On the broad meadows and the quiet stream,
To watch in silence while the evening rays
Slant through the fading trees with ruddy gleam.
Cooler the breezes play around my brow;
I am content to die—but oh! not now!"
The bleak wind whistles, snow-showers, far and near,
Drift without echo to the whitening ground,
Autumn hath passed away, and, cold and drear,
Winter stalks on, with frozen mantle bound.
Yet still that prayer ascends: "Oh! laughingly
My little brothers round the warm hearth crowd,
Our home-fire blazes broad, and bright, and high,
And the roof rings with voices glad and loud.
Spare me awhile! raise up my drooping brow!
I am content to die—but oh! not now!"
The Spring is come again—the joyful spring!
Again the banks with clustering flowers are spread:
The wild bird dips upon its wanton wing:-
The child of earth is number'd with the dead!
"Thee never more the sunshine shall awake,
Beaming all redly thro' the lattice-pane;
The steps of friends thy slumbers may not break,
Nor fond familiar voice arouse again!
Death's silent shadow veils thy darken'd brow:
Why didst thou linger?—thou art happier now!"
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Nature Seasons
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Mortality
Seasons
Death
Spring
Earthly Joys
Lament
Prayer
Poem Details
Title
The Child Of Earth.
Subject
Meditation On Mortality Through The Seasons
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas With Refrain
Key Lines
I Am Content To Die, But Oh! Not Now!
Spare Me, Great God! Lift Up My Drooping Brow!
The Child Of Earth Is Number'd With The Dead!
Why Didst Thou Linger?—Thou Art Happier Now!