<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The Mother</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Her</span> boys are not shut out. They come</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Homing like pigeons to her door,</p><p class="line"> Sure of her tender welcome home,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As many a time before.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Their bed is made so smooth and sweet,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The fire is lit, the table spread;</p><p class="line">She has poured water for their feet,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That they be comforted.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">As with a fluttering of wings</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They are come home, come home to stay;</p><p class="line">With all the bitter dreadful things</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Forgot, clean washed away.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">They are so glad to stay, so glad</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">They nestle to her gown's soft flow,</p><p class="line">As in the loving times they had,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Long ago, long ago.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Oh, not like lonely ghosts in mist</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Her boys come from the night and rain,</p><p class="line">But to be clasped, but to be kissed,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And not go out again.</p></div></body></html> · Great War