Poems (Smith)/To Willie (Willie, may thy life be pure)
TO WILLIE.
Willie, may thy life be pure, In years as you grow older, And ever may thy love endure For thy loving mother.
Ever keep her memory dear, Wherever you may wander; In after years none will appear So loving as thy mother.
When griefs oppress or sorrows rend, There's none so true and tender, So loving, fond, unto life's end, As thy own loving mother.
Never grieve her tender heart, It may not be much longer Ere you're called upon to part With thy loving mother.
Love her truly ere life's fled, That no regret may linger Around thy heart when with the dead Shall sleep thy loving mother.
May thy young life ever abound With joy and choicest pleasure; Thy loving heart ever be found True to thy loving mother.
Then when the eve of life declines, And thou art called away, May thy light there brightly shine, With thy loving mother.
Dear Willie, ere I bid adieu, I trust that you'll remember Her who penn'd these lines to you, Thy own true loving mother.