A Meeting poem – Alfred Austin

Queen, widowed Mother of a widowed child,

Whose ancient sorrow goeth forth to meet

Her new-born sorrow with parental feet,

And tearful eyes that oft on hers have smiled,

Will not your generous heart be now beguiled

From its too lonely anguish, as You greet

Her anguish, yet more cruel and complete,

And, through her woe, with woe be reconciled?

Or if this may not be, and all the years

Of love’s bereavement be withal too brief

To bring slow solace to still lengthening grief

For loss of One whom distance but endears,

Surely to Both will come some sad relief,

Sharing the comfort of commingled tears.