Farewell dear babe, my heart's too much content,
Farewell sweet babe, the pleasure of mine eye,
Farewell fair flower that for a space was lent,
Then ta'en away unto eternity.
Blest babe why should I once bewail thy fate,
Or sigh the days so soon were terminate;
Sith* thou art settled in an everlasting state. *Since
By nature trees do rot when they are grown.
And plums and apples thoroughly ripe do fall,
And corn and grass are in their season mown,
And time brings down what is both strong and tall.
But plants new set to be eradicate,
And buds new blown, to have so short a date,
Is by His hand alone that guides nature and fate.
More verses by Anne Bradstreet
- The Four Monarchyes, The Assyrian Being The First, Beginning Under Nimrod, 131. Years After The Floo
- On My Son's Return Out Of England, July 17, 1661.
- The Romane Monarchy, Being The Fourth And Last, Beginninganno Mundi , 3213.
- The Third Monarchy, Being The Grecian, Beginning Under Alexander The Great In The 112. Olympiad.
- Upon My Son Samuel His Goeing For England, Novem. 6, 1657.