Text: Edgar Allan Poe, “Sonnet — to My Mother” (comparative text - FOU and WORKS)

 

Misc.: {{1849-01: [Written for The Flag of our Union.] }}

 

Title: {{1849-01: Sonnet — to My Mother. //1850-02: TO MY MOTHER. }}

 

Rule: {{1849-01: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ }}

Byline: {{1849-01: BY EDGAR A. POE. }}

Rule: {{1849-01: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ }}

 

Rule: {{1850-02: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ }}

 

Line-01-001 {{1849-01: Because //1850-02: BECAUSE }} I feel that, in the {{1849-01: heavens //1850-02: Heavens }} above,

Line-01-002 [[indent]] The angels, whispering to one another,

Line-01-003 Can find, among their burning terms of love,

Line-01-004 [[indent]] None so devotional as that of {{1849-01: ‘mother’ — //1850-02: “Mother,” }}

Line-01-005 Therefore by that {{1849-01: sweet //1850-02: dear }} name I long have called you —

Line-01-006 [[indent]] You {{1849-01: , }} who are more than mother unto me,

Line-01-007 And fill my heart of hearts, where Death installed you {{1849-01: , }}

Line-01-008 [[indent]] In setting my Virginia's spirit free.

Line-01-009 My mother — my own mother {{1849-01: — // 1850-02: , }} who died early {{1849-01: — //1850-02: , }}

Line-01-010 [[indent]] Was but the mother of myself; but you

Line-01-011 Are mother to the one I loved so dearly,

Line-01-012 [[indent]] And thus are dearer than the mother I knew {{1849-01: , }}

Line-01-013 By that infinity with which my wife

Line-01-014 Was dearer to my soul than its soul-life.