| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | Mother | | By Elaine Goodale Eastman (1863–1953) |
| | | UPON her snowy couch she drooping lies, | |
| A languor on her limbs that seems a grace, | |
| A sacred pallor on her lily face, | |
| A blessed light reflected in her eyes, | |
| She knows who drew her strength and would not rise; | 5 |
| Forgetting self, she rests a little space, | |
| Sees her warm life-blood mantle in his face, | |
| And strains her ear to catch his wailing cries. | |
| O wondrous mother-love! how strange and deep, | |
| With what vibrating thrill of tenderness; | 10 |
| To give the glow, and lie a pallid flower, | |
| To give the light, and smile, and wait to weep! | |
| Sweet is thine infant’s warm unconsciousness, | |
| But sweeter thy mysterious sacred power! | | | | |
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