Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/Hagar and Ishmael

Hagar and Ishmael.

The promised seed is born,—no Ishmael nowWill share a father's smiles with Sarah's child;And Hagar with her son must wander farAcross the dreary solitary wild.Ere she departs one proud disdainful glanceShe throws on all around; yet in her eyeThe tear-drop gathers, as she sees her childUp to his father's face gaze wistfully.No angry, galling word to him she speaks,But bends her o'er the silent wond'ring boy,While the big tears that trickle down her cheeksTell of a mother's inward agony.