The Wail of the Cornish Mother

The Wail of the Cornish Mother

Original Text
Rev. R. S. Hawker, The Cornish Ballads And other Poems (Oxford and London: James Parker, 1869): 19-20. Facsimile Reproduction with an intro. by Kay J. Walter and Terence Allan Hoagwood. Delmar, N.Y.: Scholars' Facsimiles, 1994. PR 4759 H9C6 1869a Robarts Library
I.
1They say 'tis a sin to sorrow,
2    That what God doth is best:
3But 'tis only a month to-morrow,
4    I buried it from my breast.
II.
5I know it should be a pleasure,
6    Your child to God to send: --
7But mine was a precious treasure
III.
9I thought it would call me "mother,"
10    The very first words it said;
11O! I never can love another,
12    Like the blessèd babe that's dead.
IV.
13Well, God is its own dear Father,
14    It was carried to church and blessed:
15And our Saviour's arms will gather
16    Such children to their rest.
V.
17I shall make my best endeavour,
18    That my sins may be forgiven:
19I will serve God more than ever,
20    To meet my child in heaven.
VI.
21I will check this foolish sorrow,
22    For what God doth is best: --
23But O! 'tis a month to-morrow,
24    I buried it from my breast.

Notes

8] friend: "The name for Husband in this country" (Cornish Ballads [1908]: 81). Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1836
Publication Notes
Records of the Western Shore, 2nd ser. (1836).
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2002
Rhyme
Form