| |
| MOTHER, in some sad evening long ago, | |
| From thy young breast my groping lips were taken, | |
| Their hunger stilled, so soon again to waken, | |
| But nevermore that holy food to know. | |
| |
| Ah! nevermore! for all the child might crave! | 5 |
| Ah! nevermore! through years unkind and dreary! | |
| Often of other fare my lips are weary, | |
| Unwearied once of what thy bosom gave. | |
| |
| (Poor wordless mouth that could not speak thy name! | |
| At what unhappy revels has it eaten | 10 |
| The viands that no memory can sweeten,— | |
| The banquet found eternally the same!) | |
| |
| Then fell a shadow first on thee and me, | |
| And tendrils broke that held us two how dearly! | |
| Once infinitely thine, then hourly, yearly, | 15 |
| Less thine, as less the worthy thine to be. | |
| |
| (O mouth that yet should kiss the mouth of Sin! | |
| Were lies so sweet, now bitter to remember? | |
| Slow sinks the flame unfaithful to an ember; | |
| New beauty fades and passion’s wine is thin.) | 20 |
| |
| How poor an end of that solicitude | |
| And all the love I had not from another! | |
| Peace to thine unforgetting heart, O Mother, | |
| Who gav’st the dear and unremembered food! | |
| |
