Poems of Felicia Hemans in The Literary Souvenir, 1825/The Mother and Child

Painted by W. Brockedon.Engraved by W. Humphreys.


THE MOTHER AND CHILD.


THE MOTHER AND CHILD.

BY MRS. HEMANS.


Where art thou, Boy?—Heaven, heaven! the babe is playing
    Even on the margin of the dizzy steep!
Haste—hush! a breath, my agony betraying,
    And he is gone!—beneath him rolls the deep!
Could I but keep the bursting cry suppress'd,
And win him back in silence to my breast!

Thou'rt safe!—Thou com'st, with smiles my fond arms meeting,
    Blest, fearless child!—I, I have tasted death!
Nearer! that I may feel thy warm heart beating!
    And see thy bright hair floating in my breath!
Nearer! to still my bosom's yearning pain,—
I clasp thee now, mine own! thou'rt here again!