Classic Poem

FIRST CHILD .

This is the image of the Queen
 Who reigns in bliss above;
Of her who is the hope of men,
 Whom men and angels love!
Most holy Mary! at thy feet
 I bend a suppliant knee;
In this thy own sweet Month of May,
Dear Mother of my God, I pray,
 Do thou remember me!

SECOND CHILD .

The sacred homage that we pay
 To Mary's image here,
To Mary's self at once ascends,
 Above the starry sphere.
Most holy Mary! at thy feet
 I bend a suppliant knee;
In all my joy, in all my pain,
O Virgin born without a stain,
 Do thou remember me!

THIRD CHILD .

How fair soever be the form
 Which here your eyes behold,
Its beauty is by Mary's self
 Excell'd a thousandfold.
Most holy Mary! at thy feet
 I bend a suppliant knee;
In my temptations each and all,
The sad effect of Eva's fall,
 Do thou remember me!

FOURTH CHILD .

Sweet are the flow'rets we have cull'd,
 This image to adorn;
But sweeter far is Mary's self,
 That rose without a thorn!
Most holy Mary! at thy feet
 I bend a suppliant knee;
When on the bed of death I lie,
By Him who did for sinners die,
 Do thou remember me!

FIFTH CHILD .

O Lady, by the stars that make
 A glory round thy head;

SIXTH CHILD .

And by thy pure uplifted hands,
 That for thy children plead;

SEVENTH CHILD .

O Lady, by that face divine
 Which Angels joy to see;

EIGHTH CHILD .

And by the deadly serpent's might,
 Subdu'd and crush'd by thee;

NINTH CHILD .

And by thy robe of mystic hue,
 More azure than the skies;

TENTH CHILD .

And by those lips suffus'd with grace;
 And by those pitying eyes;

ELEVENTH CHILD .

And by these freshly-gather'd flowers
 Here offer'd at thy feet;

TWELFTH CHILD .

And by thy prayers that evermore
 Ascend as incense sweet;—

When at the Judgment-seat I stand,
 And my dread Saviour see;
When waves of night around me roll,
And Hell is raging for my soul;
 O, then remember me!