Edgar Allan Poe

To My Mother

Summary

This work is a poignant tribute expressing deep reverence for the speaker's mother-in-law. The speaker suggests that divine beings, despite their celestial wisdom, can find no term of endearment as profound as Mother. The narrative draws a comparison between the bond with their deceased biological mother, who gave life to the speaker, and the emotional connection with the mother-in-law, who is tied to the speaker through the love for their deceased wife, Virginia. This connection elevates the mother-in-law's status beyond that of the speaker's biological mother, suggesting that the love for Virginia transcends earthly bonds, intertwining familial roles. The poem conveys themes of love, loss, and the enduring significance of maternal figures, highlighting the intricate layers of familial affection and the deep impact of loved ones who have passed away.

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Because I feel that, in the Heavens above,
The angels, whispering to one another,
Can find, among their burning terms of love,
None so devotional as that of “Mother,”
Therefore by that dear name I long have called you—
You who are more than mother unto me,
And fill my heart of hearts, where Death installed you
In setting my Virginia’s spirit free.
My mother—my own mother, who died early,
Was but the mother of myself; but you
Are mother to the one I loved so dearly,
And thus are dearer than the mother I knew
By that infinity with which my wife
Was dearer to my soul than its soul-life.

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