Poems and Songs of R A Mothers Lament

a mother's lament

for the death of her son.

fate gave the word, the arrow sped,

and pierc'd my darling's heart;

and with him all the joys are fled

life can to me impart.

by cruel hands the sapling drops,

in dust dishonour'd laid;

so fell the pride of all my hopes,

my age's future shade.

the mother-linnet in the brake

bewails her ravish'd young;

so i, for my lost darling's sake,

lament the live-day long.

death, oft i've feared thy fatal blow.

now, fond, i bare my breast;

o, do thou kindly lay me low

with him i love, at rest!