To an Orphan Child

AH, child, thou art but half thy darling mother's;Hers couldst thou wholly be,My light in thee would outglow all in others;She would relive to me.But niggard Nature's trick of birthBars, lest she overjoy,Renewal of the loved on earthSave with alloy.

The Dame has no regard, alas, my maiden,For love and loss like mine—No sympathy with mind-sight memory-laden;Only with fickle eyne.To her mechanic artistryMy dreams are all unknown,And why I wish that thou couldst beBut One's alone!