She mothered five! <br />Night after night she watched a little bed, <br />Night after night she cooled a fevered head, <br />Day after day she guarded little feet, <br />Taught little minds the dangers of the street, <br />Taught little lips to utter simple prayers, <br />Whispered of strength that some day would be theirs, <br />And trained them all to use it as they should. <br />She gave her babies to the nation's good. <br /> <br />She mothered five! <br />She gave her beauty- from her cheeks let fade <br />Their rose-blush beauty- to her mother trade. <br />She saw the wrinkles furrowing her brow, <br />Yet smiling said: 'My boy grows stronger now.' <br />When pleasures called she turned away and said: <br />'I dare not leave my babies to be fed <br />By strangers' hands; besides they are too small; <br />I must be near to hear them when they call.' <br /> <br />She mothered five! <br />Night after night they sat about her knee <br />And heard her tell of what some day would be. <br />From her they learned that in the world outside <br />Are cruelty and vice and selfishness and pride; <br />From her they learned the wrongs they ought to shun, <br />What things to love, what work must still be done. <br />She led them through the labyrinth of youth <br />And brought five men and women up to truth. <br /> <br />She mothered five! <br />Her name may be unknown save to the few; <br />Of her the outside world but little knew; <br />But somewhere five are treading virtue's ways, <br />Serving the world and brightening its days; <br />Somewhere are five, who, tempted, stand upright, <br />Who cling to honor, keep her memory bright; <br />Somewhere this mother toils and is alive <br />No more as one, but in the breasts of five.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/she-mothered-five/
