Poems (Jackson)/Demeter
LEGEND of foul shame to motherhood!How doubly orphaned ignorance which wroughtSuch tale; which deemed a mother's soul had boughtOne healing for her woe in that she couldStrike other mothers desolate;—made goodHer loss by theirs, unpitying while they soughtAs she had sought, weeping and finding noughtBut cruel empty places where had stoodThe children.The children.Ah, true motherhood, bereft,Finds only joy in thought that joy is leftFor other mothers: smiling, it abidesIn loneliness, a little way apart,And from all happy mothers gladly hides,And veils the chilly winter in its heart.
DEMETER.
LEGEND of foul shame to motherhood!How doubly orphaned ignorance which wroughtSuch tale; which deemed a mother's soul had boughtOne healing for her woe in that she couldStrike other mothers desolate;—made goodHer loss by theirs, unpitying while they soughtAs she had sought, weeping and finding noughtBut cruel empty places where had stoodThe children.The children.Ah, true motherhood, bereft,Finds only joy in thought that joy is leftFor other mothers: smiling, it abidesIn loneliness, a little way apart,And from all happy mothers gladly hides,And veils the chilly winter in its heart.