Poems (Campbell)/The Soldier's Widow at the Grave of her only Child

by Dorothea Primrose Campbell

THE SOLDIER'S WIDOW AT THE GRAVE OF HER ONLY CHILD.

"In vain for me may summer's glow Make blooming nature smile;In vain may all the charms of spring Adorn our happy isle;

In vain for me may zephyrs kiss The lily's spotless breast;In vain for me the blushing rose In beauty's garb be dress'd;

In vain for me may pebbly brooks And winding streamlets run;In vain for me the rising morn, In vain the setting sun.

My world is yonder little grave, My all its narrow space;My only child reposes there, Lock'd in Death's cold embrace.

Yet peace is thine, sweet innocent! By care nor grief oppress'd;Thou sleep'st regardless of the pangs That rend thy mother's breast.

Unconscious babe! I would not wish Thy deep repose to break:Better in peace to slumber there, Than like thy mother wake.

Sleep on, sleep on, my darling babe Till Heav'n's resistless voiceShall rouse the slumb'rers of the tomb, And bid thy soul rejoice.

Sweet child! thine infant eyes had scarce Beheld life's op'ning dawn,Than thou wert fatherless, and I A widow left forlorn.

Nor e'en the last sad grief was giv'n, His dying form to see;He fell upon a foreign shore, Unwept by all but me.

Henry! thy nature suited ill The battle's stormy rage—Then wherefore go, my only love, The bloody war to wage!

How happier I, didst thou repose Beside our infant son,Than buried thus in field of strife, Where bloody deeds were done.

But, ah! to heav'n's eternal throne My ceaseless pray'r shall rise,That yet our parted souls may meet In yonder blissful skies."

She paus'd—for now the glimm'ring east Disturb'd the friendly gloom;Then slowly sought with bleeding heart Her chang'd and cheerless home.