The Mother Watch Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEECC FFG HH AACCII| She never closed her eyes in sleep till we were all in bed | A |
| On party nights till we came home she often sat and read | A |
| We little thought about it then when we were young and gay | B |
| How much the mother worried when we children were away | B |
| We only knew she never slept when we were out at night | C |
| And that she waited just to know that we'd come home all right | C |
| - | |
| Why sometimes when we'd stayed away till one or two or three | D |
| It seemed to us that mother heard the turning of the key | D |
| For always when we stepped inside she'd call and we'd reply | E |
| But we were all too young back then to understand just why | E |
| Until the last one had returned she always kept a light | C |
| For mother couldn't sleep until she'd kissed us all good night | C |
| - | |
| She had to know that we were safe before she went to rest | F |
| She seemed to fear the world might harm the ones she loved the best | F |
| And once she said 'When you are grown to women and to men | G |
| Perhaps I'll sleep the whole night through I may be different then ' | - |
| And so it seemed that night and day we knew a mother's care | H |
| That always when we got back home we'd find her waiting there | H |
| - | |
| Then came the night that we were called to gather round her bed | A |
| 'The children all are with you now ' the kindly doctor said | A |
| And in her eyes there gleamed again the old time tender light | C |
| That told she had been waiting just to know we were all right | C |
| She smiled the old familiar smile and prayed to God to keep | I |
| Us safe from harm throughout the years and then she went to sleep | I |
Edgar Albert Guest
(2)
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Write your comment about The Mother Watch poem by Edgar Albert Guest
Agnes : I first heard this poem when I was in Grade 7 many years ago. Our teacher Miss Kehoe, lived poetry and read us poems everyday, especially about mothers. Through the years even though I couldn't remember the title I tried to find this particular poem but had no luck until last night and I am so happy to have found it and it has definitely brought back many wonderful memories.
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