[Editor: This poem by Philip Durham Lorimer was published in Songs and Verses by Philip Durham Lorimer: An Australian Bush Poet, 1901.]
Our Mother’s Face
When, in childhood’s happy playtime,
Innocence upon each brow,
We would linger in our gambols,
Asking, Where is mother now ?
How our speaking eyes would glisten,
When we saw, with lovely grace,
Peeping through the window curtains,
Glimpses of our Mother’s face !
When, in manhood’s weary hardships,
Separation broke up “ home,”
And “her boy” was madly driven
Careless o’er life’s ocean foam,
Did we not then fondly treasure,
Lockets in our firm embrace ?
For within we daily gathered
Loving smiles from Mother’s face.
When the black-edged mourning letter
Told us we should never more
See on earth that precious loved one,
Who had entered Heaven’s door,
Did we not then, inward looking,
See through Heaven’s tender grace,
Beautiful and young and holy,
Smiling yet — a Mother’s face ?
Oh, how quickly some bright vision
Is produced by song or thought,
When some strain is heard or spoken,
With undying memories fraught !
Then, in splendour, noble moments
Bring to us a Heav’nly trace,
Still unfading, still endearing,
Truly fair — a Mother’s face.
Long remembered cherished years
Still are read in her fond eyes ;
And to us that soul appears,
Dearest of all earth’s ties.
Ever thro’ the changeful seasons,
Hold we nearest to our breast,
Memories which love bequeathed us
And which now in Heaven rest.
Ballarat, 1886.
Source:
E. A. Petherick (editor). Songs and Verses by Philip Durham Lorimer: An Australian Bush Poet, William Clowes and Sons, London, 1901, pages 103-104
The Institute of Australian Culture
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