Author Ebenezer Elliott ON AN ACTIVE TRADESMAN . This headless column on a stone ā What may this mournful shaft betoken? Pale orphans answer, with their moan, " The key-stone of an arch is gone! A mother's heart is broken. " Tags Short Poems Rate this poem Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet Rate Log in or register to post comments