English

Who was it said the world was wide,
The world was wide enough for thee?
Or who would chide thee if thou chide
This bounded land and shored sea?

Through prison bars, on prison walls,
Our chartered, compassed, close confine,
A ray of golden mercy falls
From that eternal source divine.

Disdaining not, complaining not,
As pure and bright, as freely given,
Here on our narrow prison plot
As in the vast domain of heaven.

Mother , mother, come to me, come to me,
Mother, mother, cold and unkind;
Mother, mother, can you be dumb to me?
Mother, mother, can you be blind?

Son, my son, there are lips that speak not,
Dumb, though the heart be full to the brim,
And a voice that whispers, " Wait and seek not,
Wait for a while and follow him."

Oh, the pain of the words I spake not!
Tears that burn and may not flow!
Oh, the weight of the heart that brake not!
Wait for a while and you will know.

I GAVE you joy without compare,
With joy I filled your very soul;
I gave you all my wealth to share,
My wealth of love entire and whole.

I gave you all my joy to share,
And yet a gift remained for you,
A thousand times more rich and rare —
I gave you all my sorrow too.

I gave you grief beyond compare,
For you I filled the bitter cup;
With hope deceived and fierce despair:
You took it; and you drank it up.

Now one in joy, in sorrow one,
I am your master and your friend,

It is not for the gifts she gave,
Nor all she has in store,
The mother of the free and brave,
I'll love her more and more.

Not for the lands she has in fee,
Nor gold in millions piled;
The mother of her sons is she,
And I, my mother's child.

1863

I HEARD the tramp, and I heard the song,
Soldiers marching, marching along.
" Glory, Glory!" I hear it yet.
My heart was hot and my cheeks were wet.
" What shall I do when I am grown,"
I said, " with children of my own?"
" If I have a son; and he has a son;
They shall do what these have done;
And I'll love them so, I'll love them so,
That I'll buckle their swords and bid them go."

Come , little one, and sit by me,
Your granny had a granny too,
And here we sat and watched the sea
Just like me and you.

And as we sat and watched the sails
Slipping past across the blue,
My granny told me her sea-tales,
The same I'm telling you.

She told me of the Spanish Main
And men who fought for faith and home
And singed the beard of the King of Spain
And clipped the wings of the Pope of Rome.

She told me of the men who swore
To find a home across the sea,

Little children, come to me,
And tell me, standing by my knee,
All the sorrows and the joys
Of little girls and little boys.

Shall I turn my ears away?
He, before whose feet I lay
Joys and sorrows and desires,
Never wearies, never tires.

" I AM busy," said the sea.
" I am busy. Think of me,
Making continents to be.
I am busy," said the sea.

" I am busy," said the rain.
" When I fall, it's not in vain;
Wait and you will see the grain.
I am busy," said the rain.

" I am busy," said the air,
" Blowing here and blowing there,
Up and down and everywhere.
I am busy," said the air.

" I am busy," said the sun.
" All my planets, every one,
Know my work is never done.
I am busy," said the sun.

Into the night she stepped, alone:
The murmuring wind made gentle moan,
The stars in heaven were thickly strown.

Wind of the West, who make your moan,
Stars in heaven thickly strown,
Here is one who is your own.

Soothe her with your murmurings:
Touch her with your gentle wings,
Give her peace: for peace she brings.

Silent watchers of the night,
Here is one as pure and bright.
And peace supreme and infinite.

I CARE not for the scorn of mocking faces:
I spurn the foaming menace of their rage,
The lot is fallen to me in pleasant places,
Mine is a fair and goodly heritage.
Thou art my God — what can the mad world proffer?
Thou art my God — I scorn their fellowships:
Their sacrifice of blood will I not offer:
I will not have their name upon my lips.
Then let them take their fill of lust and madness,
And put their trust in shield and sword and lance,
The Lord shall fill my cup with joy and gladness,
The Lord Himself is my inheritance.