And say to mothers what a holy charge
Is theirs--with what a kingly power their love
Might read more

And say to mothers what a holy charge
Is theirs--with what a kingly power their love
Might rule the fountains of the new-born mind.

They say that man is mighty,
He governs land and sea,
He wields a mighty scepter
read more

They say that man is mighty,
He governs land and sea,
He wields a mighty scepter
O'er lesser powers that be;
But a mightier power and stronger
Man from his throne has hurled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

They say man rules the universe,
That subject shore and main
Kneel down and bless the empery
read more

They say man rules the universe,
That subject shore and main
Kneel down and bless the empery
Of his majestic reign;
But a sovereign, gentler, mightier,
Man from his throne has hurled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

A woman's love
Is mighty, but a mother's heart is weak,
And by its weakness overcomes.

A woman's love
Is mighty, but a mother's heart is weak,
And by its weakness overcomes.

The bravest battle that ever was fought;
Shall I tell you where and when?
On the maps read more

The bravest battle that ever was fought;
Shall I tell you where and when?
On the maps of the world you will find it not;
It was fought by the mothers of men.
- Joaquin Miller (pseudonym of Cincinnatus Hiner Miller),

There was a place in childhood that I remember well,
And there a voice of sweetest tone bright fairy read more

There was a place in childhood that I remember well,
And there a voice of sweetest tone bright fairy tales did tell.

A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the read more

A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot

The pretty and sweet manner of it forced
Those waters from me which I would have stopped;
read more

The pretty and sweet manner of it forced
Those waters from me which I would have stopped;
But I had not so much of man in me,
And all my mother came into mine eyes
And gave me up to tears.

If I were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!
I know read more

If I were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!