The Dead Babe by Eugene Field (1897)
The poem tells the story of a mother's grief over the death of her infant child. The speaker describes the baby's beauty and innocence, and how its death has left a void in the mother's life. The poem explores themes of love, loss, and mourning.
By Eugene Field · First published 1897 · Genre: Poetry, Lyrical, Religious · 275 words
First lines
Last night, as my dear babe lay dead, / In agony I knelt and said: / "O God! what have I done, / Or in what wise offended Thee, / That Thou should'st take away from me / My little son?
"Upon the thousand useless lives, / Upon the guilt that vaunting thrives, / Thy wrath were better spent! / Why should'st Thou take my little son -- / Why should'st Thou vent Thy wrath upon / This innocent?"
Last night, as my dear babe lay dead, / Before mine eyes the vision spread / Of things that might have been: / Licentious riot, cruel strife, / Forgotten prayers, a wasted life / Dark red with sin!
What this Textopian page supports
The Dead Babe is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyrical, Religious, Tragedy, Philosophical
- Length: 275 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Dead Babe by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetic form.
- Lyrical — The poem expresses deep personal emotions and reflections on loss and grief, typical of lyrical poetry.
- Religious — The themes involve questioning divine will and finding solace in faith, indicating a strong religious undertone.
- Tragedy — The subject matter revolves around the death of a child, embodying tragic elements of loss and sorrow.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Dark Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Morbid · Death · Infant Mortality · Grief · Loss · Irony