The Ella Higginson Blog: "Mother's Picture"

Mother's Picture

Laughing, a child, she danced before it;
"It's mamma," she shouted, "why, don't you see?
I thought you would know the very first minute—
        Why, every one says she looks like me!"

Smiling, a maiden, she stood before it;
        "It's mamma," she said, and her voice was low;
"The eyes and the brow, and even the dimple,
        Are so like mine; I thought you would know."

Gravely, a woman, she stood before it;

        "It's mother," she said, and her words were slow;
"The lines of care and the eyes of sorrow
        Are like my own; I thought you would know."

An old, old woman, she stood before it,
        Her step was feeble, her words were low;
"Oh, mother," she said, "thou hast crossed the river,

Thro' the lone dark valley where I must go;

Hold close my hand for the way is so lonely;

Is my soul like thine? And will they know?"