{
 "id": "mary-weston-fordham/uranne",
 "title": "Uranne",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "Mary Weston Fordham",
 "poet_slug": "mary-weston-fordham",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Magnolia Leaves",
 "book_slug": "magnolia-leaves",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 16,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1897,
  "venue": "Magnolia Leaves (1897)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/magnolialeavespo00ford"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/mary-weston-fordham_magnolia-leaves",
  "file": "magnolia-leaves.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://scalar.lehigh.edu/african-american-poetry-a-digital-anthology/mary-weston-fordham-magnolia-leaves-full-text-1897-preface-by-booker-t-washington",
   "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/006775637"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 188,
  "n_stanzas": 22,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 54,
  "max_indent": 4
 },
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 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "In a far off hamlet near the sea",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where billows oft, in days of storm, and",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nights of darkness rush reckless to the shore;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where tall, white cliffs like watchmen keep",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A life-long vigil; Oft when the morning",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sunbeams gild their lofty peaks they seem",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Like massive crystal vases adorned with",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Rays of gold.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Hard-by those snowy cliffs,",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Shielded safe from cutting winds and icy",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Blasts, stood an humble, unpretending cot,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Its low, thatched roof of matted moss",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Glimmered, when the morning sun brightened",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Up the valley, and cast its rays aslant through",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The tiny windows ignorant of glass. Its well-",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Scrubbed floor shone like polished wood;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And all around an air of quiet, peace and",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Love, prevailed.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Within that cosy nest, there",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Dwelt three loving hearts, Nay, four, for on the",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Very morn when Christmas bells were",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ringing o’er the land, When children of the rich",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And children of the poor alike, were talking",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of the Christ-child, and his day, Unto them a",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Child was given, And this lovely babe, blest Christmas",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Gift⁠—was richly prized. E’en now she knew her",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Father’s voice, and leaped with joy at his return.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But ah! the cry of war, broke o’er the land. Cruel",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "War, that rends the households and the hearts;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That makes fond bosoms bleed; and waters all",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The sod with tears, Salty, agonizing tears, which,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When they dry, leave furrows never healing.⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sorrows, never ceasing.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The mandate came.⁠—",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Marco must go. What! leave the dear ones all",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Alone. The gray-haired sire sunning himself",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Without the cottage door? The little wife in",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Blooming womanhood? The cherub who in",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Human form had come to bless his home?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Must he leave his treasures and away to",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Distant shores, perchance, lay clown to die?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O! the thought was death itself. Yet go he",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Must. Each day he’d wander through the glade,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where every blade and tuft of grass was dear,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So dear. All his life from babe to manhood,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Here was spent. Here he grew, and loved,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And wedded. Here the precious Mother in her",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Green old age had yielded to the sharp scythe",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of the Reaper Death. Could he leave her?",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The day of",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Parting came. The sun was high when Marco",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Rose. The cheery little table decked with snowy",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Cloth was laid. Out from their frugal hoard",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Came every dainty Uranne could find.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Naught was too good for him. The dear, the",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Faithful! He who had done all in human power",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To make her life joyous. Truly, she said, as tears",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lingered in her eyes, “My lines in pleasant places",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Have been cast.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Well long they tarried o’er that",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Meal. It seemed as though ’twould never end,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And yet they were not eating. At last the babe",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Stretched forth its chubby hands and with",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Infantile speech, broke up the silent meal.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Marco arose⁠—",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Father, adieu. Take care of these as best thou",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Can’st. I know the load is much too great for",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thee. Whose silvery hairs are whitening o’er with age.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Do all thou can’st and leave the rest to “Him",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who notes when e’en the sparrows fall.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And now, Uranne! truest and best, I can",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Not give thee any more my heart, for thou had’st",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It all long ago. Thy love to me has been like",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Silver lining ’mid the clouds of life.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Has opened up my heart to kindlier feelings",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For all who on this earth have naught to cheer,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To solace them in hours like these.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But time doth",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Fly. Whether the moments teem with joy or",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Flit in sorrow. So Marco said, e’re yet I go,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Take this bunch of half-blown buds and place",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Upon your breast, near your heart, and wear",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Them till I come. Let naught divide ’twixt",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thee and them. ’Mid summer’s glow or winter’s",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Cold, loved one, wear them next thy heart.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Their very name, Forget-Me-Not, will ’mind",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thee of thy lover-husband.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Days, weeks,",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Months passed by. No tidings yet had",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Come to them, in that lone village by the sea,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ofttimes the sire would hand-in-hand take",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Baby for a walk “by the sad, sea waves”⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then would the little one pick up shells",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And moss, and lisp so sweetly with",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Infantile grace, that the aged form would",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Straighten up, as if once more the fires of youth",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Burned brightly in his veins; and his old",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bereaved heart would leap for joy.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Alas! when early",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Spring had come, and the little snowdrops",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Gleamed in the valley, little Bright-eyes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Faded and was laid beneath them.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O! then the sun went down in blackness grim.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the whole world seemed devoid of life;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Not worth living, the old man cried. And",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then he, too, alas! was laid beside the babe.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "All through the long-,",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Long summer lonely Uranne dwelt. Her heart",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Low down beneath the Daisies. Uranne, the",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pride of him who now, alas! was no more. Perchance",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He too was sleeping in that far-off land,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Without a kindly hand to smooth his aching",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Brow, or wipe from his cheeks the damp",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Death dews.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "One morning when the dew",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Had not yet left the sodden grass,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She left the cot to look for her beloved.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She sat her down ’mid the dingy rocks, which",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Girt the shore. The little ripples kissed her feet",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Caressingly. Long she looked for a white sail,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To greet her tired eyes.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Marco, dost hear Uranne’s",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Call? Wilt thou no more return? My heart is",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Breaking with its load. No longer can I wait⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But list! I’ll whisper in thine ear⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The blue “Forget-Me Nots,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The sweet Forget Me Nots” which thou",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Did’st place upon my breast. Thou wilt see them",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When thou com’st. None shall them remove.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sweetheart, I keep them till you come.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "There they found her cold",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "And stark. With hand pressed close to heart",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where lay her flowers. The sounding sea seemed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To forget to hurl its billows ’gainst the beach",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Now white and shining. E’en the little ripples",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Seemed to say, Uranne! And the great",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Mountain rocks would echo back, Uranne!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Years went by. The war, the",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Cruel war was at an end. And Peace with",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Flowing mantle had overspread the land;⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With anxious heart, but willing feet, the",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Soldier started for his dear old cabin nestled",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So snugly in the valley. Would he find them all?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The dear old sire with his silvered hair⁠—Perchance",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He had lain him down to sleep, beside the wife",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who had left him in his prime.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But she, the dear",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Uranne, she was there, no doubt of that. A stronger,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Healthier lass ne’er spun the dance.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then the baby, our baby. How she must have",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Grown. Wonder if she remembers me, her own dear",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sire? Who oft would soothe and rock to sleep.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O yes; Uranne has taught her to love and lisp",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "My name.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "When the proud vessel dropped her",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Anchor in the Bay, no prouder man, nor",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Hopeful, than was Marco. Lightly he sprang",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ashore. He looked to right, to left, no sign of",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His loved ones cheered his gaze.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Uranne, he cried, What! no welcome for Marco?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No outstretched arms to fold me in love’s embrace?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He tottered to the cot all overgrown with",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Weeds and trailing vines. O! stars above write",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On hardest stone, Desolate, forlorn⁠—alone.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Unconsciously he moved along the lane",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That led to the old church-yard. The little",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Tuneful bell that had pealed so joyously",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On his marriage eve, was silent now.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He saw no one, nor questions asked. But",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Slowly crept to where three mounds were",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Raised all side by side. He closely scanned",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Them all, when lo! upon the longest grave,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A beauteous tuft of blue Forget-Me-Nots⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Aha! he cried, my bright, my blue Forget-Me-Nots!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "My flowers which I placed upon her breast,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And bid her wear till we should meet again,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "My faithful one. The seeds matured on thy",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Dear bosom, nourished by thine own mortality,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pushed their way to the sunlight of earth, To",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Cheer and to ’mind of faithful love,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Love which lasts even after the gates of",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Death are passed. Then he wailed the whole",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Day long: Come, O! come! Uranne, come!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Like my flowers, leave your bed, too dark too",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Drear for thee. Uranne, come to me!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or I will come to thee!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "There they found him, there they laid him,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With his flowers and Uranne.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}