THE WATCHER

by Margaret Widdemer (1884-1978)


She always leaned to watch for us,
Anxious if we were late,
In winter by the window,


In summer by the gate.

And though we mocked her tenderly,
Who had such foolish care,
The long way home would seem more safe
Because she waited there.

Her thoughts were all so full of us,
She never could forget!
And so I think that where she is
She must be watching yet.



Waiting till we come home to her,
Anxious if we are late,
Watching from Heaven’s window,
Leaning on Heaven’s gate.






   I chose “The Watcher” by Margaret Widdemer because it reminded me of my grandmother. It is about a lady, mother or grandmother is unclear, who watches for her loved ones to come home. The theme is shared by the others in my anthology about home, love and a caring family. The poem speaks to me through the love this lady has for the people she is waiting on and her need to be concerned for their safety.
   The mood of the poem seems a little lonely from the lady’s perspective, the ones she waited on “mocked her tenderly”. This tells me they loved her and really did not mind that she waited on them. “Her thoughts were all so full of us, she never could forget!” She really missed them when they were gone. Then the lady has died and they believe she must still be watching from “heaven’s window and leaning on heaven’s gate”. The repetitive use of window and gate are symbols that bring to mind images of where people watch others come and go. Winter and summer she watched and waited for them to come home. It implies that she was so diligent and never would forget. Now that she is in heaven she has still not given up her watch. She will be waiting until they die and come to be with her in heaven. Her ever watching and ever waiting show the never ending love she has for them. Even though they gently mocked her they felt safe because they knew she would be there.
   This poem brings to mind the warmth that home and family bring to my heart. The use of summer and winter show that love endures through the seasons and the use of heaven shows that endures over time and after death.