Albert Schirding speaks from the grave about a particular kind of parental pain. He dismisses Jonas Keene’s complaint that his children were failures; Schirding believes it is far worse to be the failure while your children succeed. He describes raising “a brood of eagles” who left him behind like “a crow on the abandoned bough.” In an effort to earn their respect, he spent his savings running for County Superintendent of Schools—and lost. The final blow comes when his daughter wins a prize in Paris for her painting. Instead of pride, he feels only shame and unworthiness. The poem creates a quiet, bitter mood of envy and defeat, showing how a parent’s own insecurity can turn a child’s success into a source of pain.
Albert Schirding — Summary
Jonas Keene thought his lot a hard one Because his children were all failures. But I know of a fate more trying than that: It is to be a failure while your children are successes. For I raised a brood of eagles Who flew away at last, leaving me A crow on the abandoned bough. Then, with the ambition to prefix Honorable to my name, And thus to win my children’s admiration, I ran for County Superintendent of Schools, Spending my accumulations to win—and lost. That fall my daughter received first prize in Paris For her picture, entitled, “The Old Mill”— (It was of the water mill before Henry Wilkin put in steam.) The feeling that I was not worthy of her finished me.