The Outcast Mother Poem by Robert Anderson

The wind blew loud, the night was dark,
And heavy fell the rain,
When on the moor a hapless fair,
Aloud did thus complain:
``Oh! do not, do not weep, my sweet!
I cannot shelter thee!
Sleep, sleep, my little baby boy,
There is no sleep for me!

``Alas! no cottage lends its light,
To guide us on our way!
A house, or home, love, we have none;
This is our home till day:
Yes! we are doom'd to bear the storm,
Far, far from bush or tree;
But I would heed no angry blast,
Were it not, boy, for thee!

``Dear cause of all my sufferings,
Poor living mark of shame!
My heart was spotless, as is thine,
Until thy father came:
Love was, alas! my only crime,
Yes, baby boy, like thee,
I late was innocence itself,
Now there's no rest for me!

``I by my parent am despis'd,
And friend I know not one;
He who shou'd our protector be,
Far, far away is gone:
He flatter'd, ruin'd, left me
To want and misery--
Sweet baby boy, cling to my breast,
I fain would comfort thee!

``O did my father hear thy cries,
Methinks we yet might live;
And may that Pow'r who guides the storm,
His cruelty forgive!
I late his only darling was,
And he was kind to me;--
Ah! little think'st thou, weeping boy,
What I've endur'd for thee!

``Tho' little do we need, child,
None will our wants supply;
Thy mother oft has fed the poor,
But soon for want must die:
The world, alas! is pitiless;
There is no charity;
O do not weep so, baby, boy!
I cannot shelter thee!

``O rise, thou silver orb of night,
A mourner's breast to cheer;
And in some out--house we may rest,
Till morning shall appear!
--Ah! does thou at the lightning start?
Cling closer, love, to me!
No storm, no lightning I would dread,
Were it not, boy, for thee!

``How cold, cold are thy little feet,
Poor trembling child of woe!
But colder by thy mother's side,
Thou soon wilt be laid low:
Death will ere morn our sorrows end,
And rest give thee and me!
--O weep no more, my baby boy,
I cannot comfort thee!

``I feel the welcome pangs of death,
And giddy turns my brain;--
O God of mercy, hear my pray'r,
Nor let me ask in vain!
Forgive the errors of my life,
My only hope's in thee!
--One kiss, my babe!--Alas! I die!
Soon, soon thou'lt rest with me!''