“My Mother” a Victorian Poem
In many countries around the world, Mother’s Day is in May.
Below is a quaint poem I found called “My Mother”. It was written by Ann Taylor (1783 –1866). She’s the sister of Jane Taylor, the author of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Ann and Jane published books of rhymes and poems together.
The illustrations below were done by Walter Crane. Here’s what Crane wrote about it in 1910:
“My Mother” is mid-Victorian-just after crinolines had gone out-but mothers are always in fashion, bless them…
Crinolines are so old-fashioned that many of us in the 21st century are no longer familiar with the word! Crinolines were hoop petticoats worn under skirts to give them a wide round shape. They were often made out of steel to support and widen the look of the skirt. Ladies, let’s all be glad we’re not too familiar with this word!
So here’s the poem with Cranes sweet illustrations…
My Mother
Who fed me from her gentle breast,
And hush’d me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
When sleep forsook my open eye,
Who was it sung sweet hushaby,
And rock’d me that I should not cry?
My Mother.
Who sat and watched my infant head,
When sleeping in my cradle bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed?
My Mother.
When pain and sickness made me cry,
Who gazed upon my heavy eye,
And wept for fear that I should die?
My Mother.
Who dress’d my doll in clothes so gay,
And taught me pretty how to play.
And minded all I had to say?
My Mother.
Who taught my infant lips to pray,
And love God’s holy book and day.
And walk in Wisdom’s pleasant way?
My Mother.
And can I ever cease to be
Affectionate and kind to thee,
Who was so very kind to me?
My Mother
Ah, no! the thought I cannot bear;
And if God please my life to spare,
I hope I shall reward thy care,
My Mother.
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother.
When thou art feeble, old, and gray,
My healthy arm shall be thy stay,
And I will soothe thy pains away.
My Mother.
And when I see thee hang thy head,
‘Twill be my turn to watch thy bed.
And tears of sweet affection shed,
My Mother.
For God, who lives above the skies,
Would look with vengeance in His eyes,
If I should ever dare despise
My Mother.
[Note from Mama Lisa: Taylor later softened the last verse, changing it to the following.]
For could our Father in the skies
Look down with pleased or loving eyes,
If ever I could dare despise
My Mother.
PS
Here are some other posts about Mother’s Day, including other poems:
May 10th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I was wondrin if u can put this poem in Spanish
May 11th, 2008 at 12:41 am
well, its a joy to visit your website.You have got great poems to show love and affection between motherand her daughter.love your website forever and ever.
May 11th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I am so pleased to see this lovely old poem published again.
We had to memorize this in school (with the correct expressions in our voice) away back in 1934/35!
Unabashed tenderness.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I LOVE YOUR STORY.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I AM THE HAPPIEST PERSON ON EARTH SEING THIS TODAY, I WILL GIVE A SONG WITH THIS AND THE WORLD WILL FEEL IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
Amazing poem! Brings back memories. For some odd reason I just remembered it and also remembered how we had to memorise it in elementary school. Could not resist the urge of finding it online and reliving the memories. and here it is the greatest poem of the 20th Century!!
March 17th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
“My Mother” remains the greatest poem for greatest mums!
Mine is one…just thought of my mum and the memories of elementary school flashed back to my favourite poem for a mother of all mothers-Mrs. E.M. DIKE of Delta State-Nigeria(luv u so much my sweet mum).
It took me some time to get this website on google but eventually did and here is the original version of the poem.
Thanks for the good job!
April 27th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I am looking for a short mothers’s day poem (or May poem) in English to teach young 11/12 year old French kids.
Any ideas? Thanks!
April 30th, 2009 at 2:28 am
i love you mom
May 4th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I love this poem even more now that Mom has gone to be with the Lord. The poem brings back memories of my early childhood when Mom would read stories and poems from a set of books called “Books Of Life”. This poem is found in one of the volumes. To all that have their Mothers still with them, give them a big hug for me on Mother’s Day. Wish I could hug my Mother now. Thanks
May 13th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
so i was looking 4 a victorian poem to use 4 a recitation i have due 2morrow 4 british literature 12b n i ran into this poem. as i read i thought too myself that this poem was veri beautiful. every word was touching to my heart and made me think of my own mother.
May 17th, 2009 at 12:06 am
We memorized and sang this poem in elementary school in 1954. Last year I searched for it from the internet and when I discovered it, I leaped up in joyful ectasy! Those who still have their mothers around should read this poem and do what every child must do to one who almost gave up her life to ensure that they are what they are today! Your mother is the most most precious pearl you have! You may not know it until you lose it! Each of us has a divine duty to be good to our mother and to put a smile on her face everyday of their remaining days! And when we do, God’s blessings will abound in us! -John FODJE
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:15 am
I am so please to see this poem being publish, It remind me of my primary school days where i we are force to recite this poem on and on again in order to remind us that we own our a great debt. On the nutchshell I am bless with this poem and because it remind me of the my dity as a child toward my mother
May 24th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
very nise poetry — please do send me IN LONDON TWON poetry — a story called like this — poet is sitting a beautiful evening in london twon in garden and saw a beautiful bird looks like golden eyes some mistuivous fellows kills that bird — please send me the poem
May 26th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
My mother gave this poem to me when I was barely a teenager and I
memorized it for the most part. She told me to give it to my daughter,
but I never had a daughter. I lost the orignal poem that my mother
gave me and later found a book entitled Best Loved Poems at a book
store in the mall and the poem My Mother was in it, however two verses
were missing from the original poem and they were Who dressed my
doll in clothes so gay and the other verse Who ran to help me when
I fell were excluded from the original poem and it was condebsed to fit
format of the book. My Mother passed on 5-04-2009 at 98 yrs old
and I read the peom at her funeral. In poem book it said that Jane
Tayor wrote the poem. That poem meant a lot to me and my mother
was a Godly lady with vision and the poem My Mother was embodied
how deep the bond was between the two of us were. I cared for her
to her final days and my healthy arm was her stay and I did try to soothe
her pains away and I sis see her head was hung when I got the call
from the healthcare center and they delivered the sad news to me and
I arrived there with a heavy heart for the only woman that I truly ,truly
loved was gone. My mother would have been 99 on July 2nd and this
was my first mother’s day without her but, every day was mother’s day
to me when she was alive. I don’t how I have the strength to type this
because I am heartbroken and 2 weeks ago today was her funeral.
Taylor wrote the poem and now I just learned that her sister wrote it.
May 26th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
I meant to say that that in the poem book it stated that Jane Taylor wrote
the book and I just learned that her sister Ann Taylor wrote “My Mother”
June 19th, 2009 at 8:29 am
I LOVE IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!!!!!
July 11th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
it is a great work, i am excited getting to know the author of the popular poem ‘my mother’. i have also written a book titled: mothers: homemakers and nation builders. it is due for public presentation in august, 2009. cheers!!!
August 8th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
DEAR MAM,
isntit lullaby rather than hushaby
August 8th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
I’m pretty sure it’s “hushaby” (which basically means “lullaby”).
September 30th, 2009 at 3:05 am
WOWwwwwwwww!!! i am very happy to see this lovwly poem again..After 25 yrs bacl..lol//Just feeling the poem and flash back memories.
May The Soul Of My Mom rest In Peace.