| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
| |
| 634. Man’s Pillow |
| | | By Irving Browne |
| |
| |
| A BABY lying on his mother’s breast | |
| Draws life from that sweet fount; | |
| He takes his rest | |
| And heaves deep sighs; | |
| With brooding eyes | 5 |
| Of soft content | |
| She shelters him within that fragrant nest, | |
| And scarce refrains from crushing him | |
| With tender violence, | |
| His rosebud mouth, each rosy limb | 10 |
| Excite such joy intense; | |
| Rocked on that gentle billow, | |
| She sings into his ear | |
| A song that angels stoop to hear. | |
| Blest child and mother doubly blest! | 15 |
| Such his first pillow. | |
| |
| A man outwearied with the world’s mad race | |
| His mother seeks again; | |
| His furrowed face, | |
| His tired gray head, | 20 |
| His heart of lead | |
| Resigned he yields; | |
| She covers him in some secluded place, | |
| And kindly heals the earthy scar | |
| Of spade with snow and flowers, | 25 |
| While glow of sun and gleam of star, | |
| And murmuring rush of showers, | |
| And wind-obeying willow | |
| Attend his unbroken sleep; | |
| In this repose secure and deep, | 30 |
| Forgotten save by One, he leaves no trace. | |
| Such his last pillow. | |
| |
|
|
|
