Page:Poems Acton.djvu/21

I've prayed upon my knees, Mother,
 In sorrow night and day,
That the coldness of thy heart, Mother,
 Might sometime pass away.
I've prayed upon my knees, Mother,
 That I might come to be,
As treasured and as dear, Mother,
 As my sister is to thee.
But ah! 'twas all in vain, Mother,
 I strove thy will to do,
I would I had been fair, Mother,
 That thou hadst loved me too.
I've laid upon my bed, Mother,
 When others thought I slept;
Through the long and weary night, Mother,
 My lonely watch I've kept.
To hear thy well-known step, Mother.
 And see thee fondly press
On my sister's sleeping brow, Mother.
 A kiss of tenderness.
But ah! no kiss was mine, Mother,
 No blessing came to me,
I've wept till daylight dawned, Mother,
 For I was nought to thee!
Yet now so near my grave, Mother.
 One wish my heart doth fill,
One pray'r upon my lip, Mother,
 Doth hang unuttered still.