To My Beloved Parents.
In Memoriam.
On your resting place I spread today
Sweet blossoms on your bed of clay;
Alas, what more here can I do
But pray, dear ones, for both of you.
The sun is setting in the west,
With glowing colors you are blest;
Thus here I stand, the declining day,
With birds about you still at play.
At night the stars shine over your bed,
And silvery moonbeams over head,
To guide your souls to heaven above,
Where all is peace, eternal love.
The meek, weeping willow sings the requiem
To the birds that it shelters at night in their dream,
And the wind wails softly over head,
Sobbing and sighing—they are dead.
Divorced.
My divorce has been granted this very day,
With no one to scold, I can do what I may;
My heart seems to flutter, how happy I feel,
It will take some time this great wound to heal.
My dear Mrs. Smith, good morning to you,
I have heard about a divorce, is it really true?
Well, I’m awfully sorry, now what can I do
To lessen your burden, for your children and you.
He seemed so proud of you, when you would go out
In the warm summer evenings, to ride about;
Such love looks he’d give you; now how can this be
To break up a home, I pray you, tell me.
It was this way, when I married him I didn’t know
How to cook or keep house, not even to sew;
My parents were old—so it fell to me
To help support them—now, do you see?