I've been hunting...

[Lyd12]

I have been racking my brains trying to remember an old poem. Not much chance, as I don't know the title, or the poet or the first line! I just know it was fairly short, and about a father who, having chastised his son, later looked at him asleep in bed, with beside him his treasures, such As a pebble, etc. The father reflects on how we gather possessions in our lives etc. I've googled all sorts of combinations of words with no luck. Can anyone put me out of my misery? I think I must have read it in one of the editions of my old Childrens Encyclopedias, which I gave to a charity shop. iris x

[Azure_Sky]

The Toys

My little Son, who looked from thoughtful eyes

And moved and spoke in quiet grown-up wise,

Having my law the seventh time disobeyed,

I struck him, and dismissed

With hard words and unkissed,

(His Mother, who was patient, being dead).

Then, fearing lest his grief should hinder sleep,

I visited his bed,

But found him slumbering deep,

With darkened eyelids, and their lashes yet

From his late sobbing wet.

And I, with moan,

Kissing away his tears, left others of my own;

For, on a table drawn beside his head,

He had put, within his reach,

A box of counters and a red-veined stone,

A piece of glass abraded by the beach,

And six or seven shells,

A bottle with bluebells

And two French copper coins, ranged there with careful art,

To comfort his sad heart.

So when that night I prayed

To God, I wept, and said:

Ah, when at last we lie with trancèd breath,

Not vexing Thee in death,

And Thou rememberest of what toys

We made our joys,

How weakly understood,

Thy great commanded good,

Then, fatherly not less

Than I whom Thou hast moulded from the clay,

Thou'lt leave Thy wrath, and say,

"I will forgive them for their childishness."

Coventry Patmore

[Lyd12 in reply to Azure_Sky]

Azure, thank you so much. Yes, Toys, that is the one. How did you find it or did you know it? Its so aggravating when you half remember something. It wasn't exactly short, thank you for typing it out, if i had known the title I would have found it I'm sure. what a great site this is! I had very little hope of someone knowing it from my description. thanks again. iris x

[Azure_Sky in reply to Lyd12]

I searched for Father speaks to sleeping son, after trying various other combinations. It was a reply on a website, where someone else was looking for it.

Poem hunter is a very good site. I had a good look through there first.

[Lyd12 in reply to Azure_Sky]

Well done! I had tried poem hunter but of course didn't have enough to go on. that was lucky someone else was searching for it. sometimes the internet is a wonderful thing, if only it wasn' t used for evil purposes. Best wishes, Iris x

[Hidden]

That is very moving. x

[Lyd12]

glad you liked it poems. Im so grateful to Azure for finding it for me. Just couldn't remember title or poet yet I knew it was one that had made an impression on me years ago. I can certainly identify with feeling guilty after being cross with one of my children, but of course it has a much deeper meaning. As you get older you start to separate yourself from the many things you have accumulated throughout your life. Not all of them though! Love Iris x.

[Sheilab123]

That's really moving Azure, thank you! Xx

[Hidden]

The poem is beautiful...

[Lyd12 in reply to Hidden]

glad you enjoyed it Vashti, all thanks to Azure for finding it for me, Now I want to hold on to it. Iris x

[phillips1]

If you wish to know more.

poetryfoundation.org/bio/co...

Bobby

[Lyd12 in reply to phillips1]

thanks Bobby, very interesting. wonderful words that reach the heart, this poem. Hope you are well, Love Iris x

[emmo]

Lovely words and so true, thank you.

[Lyd12]

Pleased you enjoyed it Emmo. How are you, hope you are well. Warm weather on the way they say. I'll believe it when it happens! love Iris x

[Dragonmum]

How lovely to read that poem again after so many years - "His Mother, who was patient, being dead" is a touching line; and thanks for the tips on poem-hunting Azure, so useful when something is tickling the corner of your mind and you just can't pin it down.