A Farewell Comments
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My fairest child, I have no song to give you;
No lark could pipe to skies so dull and grey:
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Sweet and lovely advice from a father to his loving daughter. Quite inspiring. Thanks.
This poem is in the book " Best Loved Poems of the American People" by HAZEL FELLEMAN.I have had this book of poems for nearly 50 years-it is a treasure! My grandmother used to recite this poem me.
A primary school teacher wrote the first line of this in my autograph book over 50 years ago, and I have only just by accident found it’s source! At the time I was very upset, I didn’t want to be good, but to be clever! I’ve always remembered it and have spent my life ignoring the advice!
What's the occasion of the parting? The advice is almost like the idea (I think echoed by Nietzsche?) that one should live one's life as though crafting a work of art. Difficult to do on a monday morning in January, when everyone is being grumpy... But not a bad idea
My late Mum wrote this poem in my autograph book when I was quite young,Words that touch the heart.
My mum did exactly the same and I still have my autograph book with it in now passing it on to my lovely great granddaughter Isobella for her memories box for when she is eighteen we will be gone by then
What terrible dispiriting advice to a clever girl. Typical Victorian paternalistic drivel.
I must say your ideological bias is so subtle! Almost impossible to detect, forsooth. And so unusual, so original! All extremely welcome in a discussion of a poem is that enough sarcasm? I think so
In 1967 as I left for college my mom quoted two lines from this...I searched now and have tears...
My mum used to recite this to my sister and me as we headed off to school every morning. Now I recite it to my daughter.
A good advice from a good father...but it stirs one's heart as it sounds dolorous too....a touching poem
I love this poem which my mother always wrote for us as a keep sake I now have to write for my lovely just one year old great grand daughter her parents are collecting a memory's box for when she is eighteen we will not be there to see this but feel this poem is how we would have said to her about her future
Never mind your wishes Just go and wash the dishes (Don't know how to correct the errors this iPad insists upon making)
Let me defend the dreamer. For me this is a poem counsel of despair: NEVER Met ND YOUR WISHES JUST GO AND WASH THE DISHES.
The greatest wish a father could have for his child- that the child live his morals not merely mouth them
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7/26/2025 12:29:48 PM # 1.0.0
65 years ago, my mother wrote this poem (second half) in my autograph book and I never really understood it. I was 11 or 12 and was just glad to have her handwriting because she died all too soon of cancer when I was 12. It makes more sense to see it in context with other's remarks. I appreciate it all the more now and will be sure to pass it on when my grandsons have daughters (soon I hope!) . The sentiment is beautiful.