Anster Fair, and Other Poems By William Tennant. With A Prefatory Memoir of the Author and his Writings |
 |
|
TO MY MOTHER'S SPINNING-WHEEL.
|
 | Anster Fair, and Other Poems |  |
TO MY MOTHER'S SPINNING-WHEEL.
WRITTEN THE DAY AFTER HER DEATH—NOV. 1831.
Lo! silent now and motionless
Within the corner stands
The busy little engine, once
Mov'd by my mother's hands.
I bought it for her, low and light,
To turn in easy wise,
Thereby t'invite her aged feet,
To gentle exercise.
Within the corner stands
The busy little engine, once
Mov'd by my mother's hands.
I bought it for her, low and light,
To turn in easy wise,
Thereby t'invite her aged feet,
To gentle exercise.
How gladsomely she sate her down,
Her self-set task to ply!
How lightsomely beside the hearth
Did winter evenings fly!
I question'd her of thrift, and all
Her linen-making toils,
And she inform'd my ignorance
All readily with smiles.
Her self-set task to ply!
How lightsomely beside the hearth
Did winter evenings fly!
I question'd her of thrift, and all
Her linen-making toils,
And she inform'd my ignorance
All readily with smiles.
Idle a while the engine stood,
In autumn's jolly reign;
She chid herself for idleness,
And sought her wheel again.
She spread the flax all smooth, she warp'd
It round the distaff fair;
Alas! her hand ne'er touch'd the work—
She died, and left it there!
In autumn's jolly reign;
She chid herself for idleness,
And sought her wheel again.
33
It round the distaff fair;
Alas! her hand ne'er touch'd the work—
She died, and left it there!
And now another hand must spin
The flaxen remnant out;
A foot of greater energy
Must force the wheel about.
No more my chamber with its hum,
At eve shall shaken be;
A housewife's thrift, a housewife's toils,
No more have charms for me!
The flaxen remnant out;
A foot of greater energy
Must force the wheel about.
No more my chamber with its hum,
At eve shall shaken be;
A housewife's thrift, a housewife's toils,
No more have charms for me!
Yet, little engine! though thy sound
No more shall please mine ear,
Yet ever to mine eye thou shalt
Be a memorial dear.
Ev'n for her sake that exercis'd
Her aged foot on thee,
I'll look on thee with love, and thou
Shalt never part from me!
No more shall please mine ear,
Yet ever to mine eye thou shalt
Be a memorial dear.
Ev'n for her sake that exercis'd
Her aged foot on thee,
I'll look on thee with love, and thou
Shalt never part from me!
| Anster Fair, and Other Poems | |