WRITTENONTHEDAYOFMYAUNT'SFUNERAL

writtenonthedayofmyaunt'sfuneral

thoutooartdead,——!verykind

hastthoubeentomeinmychildishdays,

thoubestgoodcreature.ihavenotforgot

howthoudidstlovethycharles,whenhewasyet

apratingschoolboy:ihavenotforgot

thebusyjoyonthatimportantday,

when,child-like,thepoorwandererwascontent

toleavethebosomofparentallove,

hischildhood'splay-place,andhisearlyhome,

fortherudefosteringsofastranger'shand,

harduncouthtasks,andschool-boy'sscantyfare.

howdidthineeyeperusehimroundandround,

andhardlyknowhiminhisyellowcoats注释标题thedressofchrist'shospital,,

redleathernbelt,andgownofrussetblue!

farewell,goodaunt!

gothou,andoccupythesamegrave-bed

wherethedeadmotherlies.

ohmydearmother,ohthoudeardeadsaint!

where'snowthatplacidface,whereofthathsat

amother'ssmile,tothinkhersonshouldthrive

inthisbadworld,whenshewasdeadandgone;

andwhenatearhathsat(takeshame,oson!)

whenthatsamechildhasprov'dhimselfunkind.

oneparentyetisleft—awretchedthing,

asadsurvivorofhisburiedwife,

apalsy-smitten,childish,old,oldman,

asemblancemostforlornofwhathewas,

amerrycheerfulman.amerrierman,

amanmoreapttoframematterformirth,

madjokes,andanticksforachristmaseve;

makinglifesocial,andtheardtime

tomoveonnimbly,neveryetdidcheer

thelittlecircleofdomesticfriends.

february,1797.