Poetry question
Dates: 3/13/00,4:33 PM through 3/14/00,11:26 AM (4 postings)
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Poetry question
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FROM: [removed]@aol.com
DATE: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 16:33:00 EST
I have a patron who remembers a poem from years
ago which she would love to reread...the subject matter
is an elderly couple who are very poor and the mans
brother offers to buy one of their children and together they
all go bed to bed looking at the sleeping children, and
as the husband and wife look at each child they say
"No, not that one". No memory of publication or book
seen in or first/last name of author. We have checked
Grangers, several poetry books (especially inspirational
poetry) and online search engines for poetry.
Any leads would be gratefully appreciated!
Janet Morley
East Regional Library
946 Steeple Square Court
Knightdale, NC 27545
FROM: The Singletarys <[removed]@lcc.net>
DATE: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 22:19:38 -0600
Virginia Singletary
Stella Hill Memorial Library
Alto TX
At 04:33 PM 3/13/2000 EST, you wrote:
>I realize this is not really a fiction posting, but
>was hoping this might ring a bell with someone...
>
>I have a patron who remembers a poem from years
>ago which she would love to reread...the subject matter
>is an elderly couple who are very poor and the mans
>brother offers to buy one of their children and together they
>all go bed to bed looking at the sleeping children, and
>as the husband and wife look at each child they say
>"No, not that one". No memory of publication or book
>seen in or first/last name of author. We have checked
>Grangers, several poetry books (especially inspirational
>poetry) and online search engines for poetry.
>
>Any leads would be gratefully appreciated!
>
>Janet Morley
>East Regional Library
>946 Steeple Square Court
>Knightdale, NC 27545
>
>
FROM: "Rachel Kohl Community Library" <[removed]@delco.lib.pa.us>
DATE: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 10:35:58 -0500
[removed]@RK
Rachel Kohl Community Library
689 Smithbridge Rd. P.O. Box 931
Concordville PA 19331
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org
>[[removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org]On Behalf Of The
>Singletarys
>Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 11:20 PM
>To: [removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org
>Subject: Re: Poetry question
>
>
>
>This was one of my mother's favorites. It is WHICH SHALL IT BE?
>by Ethel
>Lynn Beers. I found it in Best Loved Poems of the American People. If
>you don't find it, let me know and I will send it to you.
>
>Virginia Singletary
>Stella Hill Memorial Library
>Alto TX
>
>
>
>At 04:33 PM 3/13/2000 EST, you wrote:
>>I realize this is not really a fiction posting, but
>>was hoping this might ring a bell with someone...
>>
>>I have a patron who remembers a poem from years
>>ago which she would love to reread...the subject matter
>>is an elderly couple who are very poor and the mans
>>brother offers to buy one of their children and together they
>>all go bed to bed looking at the sleeping children, and
>>as the husband and wife look at each child they say
>>"No, not that one". No memory of publication or book
>>seen in or first/last name of author. We have checked
>>Grangers, several poetry books (especially inspirational
>>poetry) and online search engines for poetry.
>>
>>Any leads would be gratefully appreciated!
>>
>>Janet Morley
>>East Regional Library
>>946 Steeple Square Court
>>Knightdale, NC 27545
>>
>>
>
>
FROM: The Singletarys <[removed]@lcc.net>
DATE: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 11:26:22 -0600
Which shall it be? Which shall it be?
I looked at John - John look'd at me
(Dear patient John who loves me yet
As well as though my locks were jet);
And when I found that I must speak,
My voice seem'd strangely low and weak:
"Tell me again what Robert said."
And then I, listening, bent my head.
"This is his letter: 'I will give
A house and land while you shall live,
If, in return, from out your seven,
One child to me for aye is given.'"
I look'd at John's old garments worn,
I thought of all that John had borne
Of poverty and work and care,
Which I, though willing, could not share;
I thought of seven mouths to feed,
Of seven little children's need,
And then of this. "Come, John," said I,
"We'll choose among them as they lie
Asleep"; so, walking hand in hand,
Dear John and I survey'd our band.
First to the cradle lightly stepp'd
Where the new nameless baby slept.
"Shall it be Baby?" whispered John
I took his hand, and hurried on
To Lily's crib. Her sleeping grasp
Held her old doll within its clasp;
Her dark curls lay like gold alight,
A glory 'gainst the pillow white.
Softly her father stoop'd to lay
His rough hand down in loving way,
When dream or whisper made her stir,
Then huskily said Joh, "Not her, not her!"
We stopp'd beside the trundle bed,
And one long ray of lamplight shed
Athwart the boyish faces there,
In sleep so pitiful and fair;
I saw on Jamie's rought, red cheek
A tear undried. Ere John could speak,
"He's but a baby, too," said I
And kiss'd him as we hurried by.
Pale, patient Robbie's angel face
Still in his sleep bore suffering's trace.
"No, for a thousand crowns, not him!"
We shisper'd while our eyes were dim.
Poor Dick! bad Dick! our wayward son,
Turbulent, reckless, idle one --
Could he be spared? Nay; He who gave
Bids us befriend him to his grave;
Only a mother's heart can be
Patient enough for such as he;
"And so," said John, "I would not dare
To send him from her bedside prayer."
Then stole we softly up above
And knelt by Mary, child of love,
"Perhaps for her 'twould better be,"
I said to John. Quite silently
He lifted up a curl astray
Across her cheek in wilful way,
And shook his head: "Nay, love; not thee,"
The while my heart beat audibly.
Only one more, our eldest lad,
Trusty and truthful, good and glad--
So like his father, "No, John, no--
I cannot, will not, let him go."
And so we wrote, in courteous way,
We could not give one child away;
And afterward toil lighter seem'd
Thinking of that of which we dream'd
Happy in truth that not one face
We miss'd from its accustom'd place;
Thankful to work for all the seven,
Trusting the rest to One in heaven.
Ethel Lynn Beers.
At 10:35 AM 3/14/2000 -0500, you wrote:
> I don't know about the original requestor but I'd love to see the poem.
>
[removed]@RK
>Rachel Kohl Community Library
>689 Smithbridge Rd. P.O. Box 931
>Concordville PA 19331
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: [removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org
> >[[removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org]On Behalf Of The
> >Singletarys
> >Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 11:20 PM
> >To: [removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org
> >Subject: Re: Poetry question
> >
> >
> >
> >This was one of my mother's favorites. It is WHICH SHALL IT BE?
> >by Ethel
> >Lynn Beers. I found it in Best Loved Poems of the American People. If
> >you don't find it, let me know and I will send it to you.
> >
> >Virginia Singletary
> >Stella Hill Memorial Library
> >Alto TX
> >
> >
> >
> >At 04:33 PM 3/13/2000 EST, you wrote:
> >>I realize this is not really a fiction posting, but
> >>was hoping this might ring a bell with someone...
> >>
> >>I have a patron who remembers a poem from years
> >>ago which she would love to reread...the subject matter
> >>is an elderly couple who are very poor and the mans
> >>brother offers to buy one of their children and together they
> >>all go bed to bed looking at the sleeping children, and
> >>as the husband and wife look at each child they say
> >>"No, not that one". No memory of publication or book
> >>seen in or first/last name of author. We have checked
> >>Grangers, several poetry books (especially inspirational
> >>poetry) and online search engines for poetry.
> >>
> >>Any leads would be gratefully appreciated!
> >>
> >>Janet Morley
> >>East Regional Library
> >>946 Steeple Square Court
> >>Knightdale, NC 27545
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
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