Weary way-wanderer languid and sick at heart <br />Travelling painfully over the rugged road, <br />Wild-visag'd Wanderer! ah for thy heavy chance! <br /> <br />Sorely thy little one drags by thee bare-footed, <br />Cold is the baby that hangs at thy bending back <br />Meagre and livid and screaming its wretchedness. <br /> <br />Woe-begone mother, half anger, half agony, <br />As over thy shoulder thou lookest to hush the babe, <br />Bleakly the blinding snow beats in thy hagged face. <br /> <br />Thy husband will never return from the war again, <br />Cold is thy hopeless heart even as Charity-- <br />Cold are thy famish'd babes--God help thee, widow'd One!<br /><br />Robert Southey<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-soldier-s-wife/
