Poems (Sill)/The Foster-Mother

THE FOSTER-MOTHER.
AS some poor Indian womanA captive child receives,And warms it in her bosom,And o'er its weeping grieves;
And comforts it with kisses,And strives to understandIts eager, lonely babble,Fondling the little hand,—
So Earth, our foster-mother,Yearns for us, with her greatWild heart, and croons in murmursLow, inarticulate.
She knows we are white captives,Her dusky race above,But the deep, childless bosomThrobs with its brooding love.