The Dying Child To Its Mother

Read 'The Dying Child To Its Mother' by 'Victor Hugo' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

The Dying Child To Its Mother by Victor Hugo

 ("Oh! vous aurez trop dit.") 
 
 {Bk. III. xiv., April, 1843.} 


 Ah, you said too often to your angel 
 There are other angels in the sky— 
 There, where nothing changes, nothing suffers, 
 Sweet it were to enter in on high. 
 
 To that dome on marvellous pilasters, 
 To that tent roofed o'er with colored bars, 
 That blue garden full of stars like lilies, 
 And of lilies beautiful as stars. 
 
 And you said it was a place most joyous, 
 All our poor imaginings above, 
 With the wingèd cherubim for playmates, 
 And the good God evermore to love. 
 
 Sweet it were to dwell there in all seasons, 
 Like a taper burning day and night, 
 Near to the child Jesus and the Virgin, 
 In that home so beautiful and bright. 
 
 But you should have told him, hapless mother, 
 Told your child so frail and gentle too, 
 That you were all his in life's beginning, 
 But that also he belonged to you. 
 
 For the mother watches o'er the infant, 
 He must rise up in her latter days, 
 She will need the man that was her baby 
 To stand by her when her strength decays. 
 
 Ah, you did not tell enough your darling 
 That God made us in this lower life, 
 Woman for the man, and man for woman, 
 In our pains, our pleasures and our strife. 
 
 So that one sad day, O loss, O sorrow! 
 The sweet creature left you all alone; 
 'Twas your own hand hung the cage door open, 
 Mother, and your pretty bird is flown. 
 
 BP. ALEXANDER. 


 





Comments

Comments About This Poem

Share your interpretation, favorite passage, or thoughts about this famous poem. Please provide an in-depth and meaningful comment.

  • What do you think the poet was trying to say?
  • Which line had the biggest impact on you?
  • How does this poem relate to modern life?
  • What literary devices did you notice?
No comments have been posted yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace