p. 12 | A Mother to Her Son by Delwin Rees Buckner

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 24, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 37.

A Mother to Her Son

By Delwin Rees Buckner

Upon Discovering that He Smoked

By Delwin Rees Buckner

Last night, as I lay longing for the dawn, My window wide to scent the lilac's bloom And let the mocking-bird dispel my gloom, Almost as fast as flees a frightened fawn, A stooping shadow shot across the lawn, Lit by a spark that trailed a sickening fume. Heart-sad, I hastened to thy cozy room; But, lo—I bleed to say it—thou wast gone! Within my bosom waves of sorrow roll. My son, thy joys I feel, thy griefs as well; But O, they torture like a gouging knife— Thy sins against the temple of thy soul. God breathed within thy nostrils breath of life; My boy, wouldst thou exhale smoke wreaths of hell?

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