Mother Song by Edith Nesbit (1900)
The poem is a mother's expression of love for her child, describing her heart as heavy with layers of love that unfold endlessly. She envisions her child nestled deep within her, warm and safe, unaware of the world outside. The mother acknowledges that her child will eventually break her heart, but for now, she cherishes their tender bond.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1900 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 262 words
First lines
_From the Portuguese._
HEAVY my heart is, heavy to carry, Full of soft foldings, of downy enwrapments -- And the outer fold of all is love, And the next soft fold is love, And the next, finer and softer, is love again; And were they unwound before the eyes More folds and more folds and more folds would unroll Of love -- always love, And, quite at the last, Deep in the nest, in the soft-packed nest, One last fold, turned back, would disclose You, little heart of my heart, Laid there so warm, so soft, so soft, Not knowing where you lie, nor how softly, Nor why your nest is so soft, Nor how your nest is so warm.
What this Textopian page supports
Mother Song is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Nesbit, dated 1900 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure, Family
- Length: 262 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mother Song by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Mother Song?
- How does this poem by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Saturday Song by Edith Nesbit
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is centered around the experiences and perspectives of children, making it suitable for a young audience.
- Fantasy — The story incorporates magical elements and fantastical creatures, characteristic of the fantasy genre.
- Adventure — The plot involves a series of exciting events and challenges that the characters must overcome.
- Family — The narrative explores familial relationships and dynamics, making it relevant to the family genre.
Tags
Fantasy · Children's Literature · Adventure · Fiction · Classic · British Literature · Mythology · Legends · Folklore · Magic · Quest · Journey