<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Only Son</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">His</span> mother died last year and yet</p><p class="line">She wearied Heaven with fear and fret,</p><p class="line">Wanting the son she left behind,</p><p class="line">And God was patient, being kind.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">He was so beautiful, so young,</p><p class="line">Slender as a tall tree, wind-swung;</p><p class="line">Innocent, gay: she went in fear</p><p class="line">Something might hurt him, lacking her.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">She heard amid the starry mirth</p><p class="line">Rumour of dreadful things on earth.</p><p class="line">Of sweet youth slain and beauty marred</p><p class="line">Beyond all balm and spikenard.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Oh, had she visions of his plight</p><p class="line">Lying in the red rain at night</p><p class="line">Amid the piteous heap of slain,</p><p class="line">That she was wild with fear and pain?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">God gives His angels. But she went</p><p class="line">Uncomforted and discontent.</p><p class="line">Because no angel ever knew</p><p class="line">The way to love that mothers do.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And so she wearied Heaven with prayer,</p><p class="line">Her knees for ever on God's stair,</p><p class="line">Her troubled thoughts for ever abeat</p><p class="line">Like wings about the Mercy-Seat.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">At last God heard her. Swift as the wind</p><p class="line">His messenger went forth to find</p><p class="line">Her son and bring him to her breast</p><p class="line">So that at last her heart might rest.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">She died a year ago and still</p><p class="line">Her cup of Heaven's untasted till</p><p class="line">God's messenger returns to say:</p><p class="line">"He fell in action yesterday."</p></div></body></html> · Great War