Author: Horatio Alger, Jr.

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    When the clouds in the Western sky
    Flush red with the setting sun,--
    When the veil of twilight falls,
    And the busy day is done,--
    I sit and watch the clouds,
    With their crimson hues alight,
    And ponder with anxious heart,
    Oh, where is my boy to-night?

    It is just a year to-day
    Since he bade me a gay good-by,
    To march where banners float,
    And the deadly missiles fly.
    As I marked his martial step
    I felt my color rise
    With all a mother's pride,
    And my heart was in my eyes.

    There's a little room close by,
    Where I often used to creep
    In the hush of the summer night
    To watch my boy asleep.
    But he who used to rest
    Beneath the spread so white
    Is far away from me now,--
    Oh, where is my boy to-night?

    Perchance in the gathering night,
    With slow and weary feet,
    By the light of Southern stars,
    He paces his lonely beat.
    Does he think of the mother's heart
    That will never cease to yearn,
    As only a mother's can,
    For her absent boy's return?

    Oh, where is my boy to-night?
    I cannot answer where,
    But I know, wherever he is,
    He is under our Father's care.
    May He guard, and guide, and bless
    My boy, wherever he be,
    And bring him back at length
    To bless and to comfort me.

    May God bless all our boys
    By the camp-fire's ruddy glow,
    Or when in the deadly fight
    They front the embattled foe;
    And comfort each mother's heart,
    As she sits in the fading light,
    And ponders with anxious heart--
    Oh, where is my boy to-night?

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Type of Poem: Narrative Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poignant poem explores themes of maternal love, sacrifice, worry, and faith against the backdrop of a war setting. The speaker, presumably a mother, anxiously ponders the whereabouts and well-being of her son, who has left home to serve in a military conflict. The tone of the poem is one of deep longing and concern, tinged with pride and resolve, embodying the complex emotions of a mother whose son is in a dangerous and far-off place.

The poem's structure is consistent, employing a regular rhyme scheme that adds a rhythmic and musical quality to the narrative. This formal structure contrasts effectively with the turmoil of emotions expressed, providing a sense of order amidst the uncertainty. One standout literary device used is the symbolic representation of time and emotion through natural elements, such as the setting sun and the veil of twilight, enhancing the melancholy and longing that permeate the poem.

The repeated question, "Oh, where is my boy to-night?" serves as a refrain, which not only emphasizes the mother's anxiety but also allows the reader to share in her emotional journey. This question, left unanswered, underscores the uncertainty and fear that come with war. However, the poem ends on a hopeful note, expressing faith in divine protection and a prayer for all sons in similar circumstances, thereby elevating personal concern to a universal level. In this way, the poem is not only a personal lament but also a tribute to all mothers who wait and worry for their children in times of conflict.