Mater Dei

Katharine Tynan 1861 (Ireland) – 1931



She looked to east, she looked to west,
Her eyes, unfathomable, mild,
That saw both worlds, came home to rest,­
Home to her own sweet child.
God's golden head was at her breast.

What need to look o'er land and sea?
What could the winged ships bring to her?
What gold or gems of price might be,
Ivory or miniver,
Since God Himself lay on her knee?

What could th' intense blue heaven keep
To draw her eyes and thoughts so high?
All heaven was where her Boy did leap,
Where her foot quietly
Went rocking the dear God asleep.

The angel folk fared up and down
A Jacob's Ladder hung between
Her quiet chamber and God's Town.
She saw unawed, serene;
Since God Himself played by her gown.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

40 sec read
21

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABA CDCDC EXECE FGFGF
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 688
Words 132
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 5, 5, 5, 5

Katharine Tynan

Katharine Tynan was an Irish-born writer, known mainly for her novels and poetry. more…

All Katharine Tynan poems | Katharine Tynan Books

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