Mater

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Mater Divinae Gratiae

Aubrey de Vere
 

The gifts a mother showers each day

   Upon her softly-clamorous brood:

The gifts they value but for play,—

   The graver gifts of clothes and food, —

Whence come they but from him who sows

   With harder hand, and reaps, the soil;

The merit of his labouring brows,

   The guerdon of his manly toil?

From Him the Grace: through her it stands

   Adjusted, meted, and applied;

And ever, passing through her hands,

   Enriched it seems, and beautified.

Love's mirror doubles Love's caress:

   Love's echo to Love's voice is true: —

Their Sire the children love not less

   Because they clasp a Mother too.

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A very happy Mother's Day to all mothers in America, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Switzerland, Venezuela, and all other nations where this date is celebrated this Sunday.