| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1164. Mother England |
| | | By Edith Matilda Thomas |
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I
THERE was a rover from a western shore, | |
| England! whose eyes the sudden tears did drown, | |
| Beholding the white cliff and sunny down | |
| Of thy good realm, beyond the sea’s uproar. | |
| I, for a moment, dreamed that, long before, | 5 |
| I had beheld them thus, when, with the frown | |
| Of sovereignty, the victor’s palm and crown | |
| Thou from the tilting-field of nations bore. | |
| Thy prowess and thy glory dazzled first; | |
| But when in fields I saw the tender flame | 10 |
| Of primroses, and full-fleeced lambs at play, | |
| Meseemed I at thy breast, like these, was nursed; | |
| Then mother—Mother England!—home I came, | |
| Like one who hath been all too long away! | |
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II
AS nestling at thy feet in peace I lay, | 15 |
| A thought awoke and restless stirred in me: | |
| “My land and congeners are beyond the sea, | |
| Theirs is the morning and the evening day. | |
| Wilt thou give ear while this of them I say: | |
| ‘Haughty art thou, and they are bold and free, | 20 |
| As well befits who have descent from thee, | |
| And who have trodden brave the forlorn way. | |
| Children of thine, but grown to strong estate; | |
| Nor scorn from thee would they be slow to pay, | |
| Nor check from thee submissly would they bear; | 25 |
| Yet, Mother England! yet their hearts are great, | |
| And if for thee should dawn some darkest day, | |
| At cry of thine, how proudly would they dare!” | |
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