Veneta Donaldson: "I Saw Her Standing There"

Veneta Donaldson with niece, 1957
Veneta had no children. She was 20 years old when my mother was born, so she was like a second mother to her. The photo above shows my aunt holding me as a baby. She and her husband were very strongly present in my life, and after my mother passed away, Veneta was a second mother to me, too.


I Saw Her Standing There
by Veneta Donaldson

I saw her standing there,
A quiet child with eyes of brown
And countenance so dear. I knew
Her from a long-remembered prayer.

I saw her standing there,
This child born of my reverie
Then suddenly she was no more –
A vision sweet beyond compare.


The next poem in this series can be found here: I Often Wonder.

This is part of a series of poems by Veneta Donaldson. A brief bio and the beginning of the series can be found here: Veneta Donaldson: A Poet in the Family.

Veneta Donaldson: "To N.J.D. and P.C. McC."

Veneta Donaldson, 1909
I found this poem in my aunt's little box of special things. It appears to be a prayer written to be given to my mother, N.J.D., when she was pregnant and someone else--probably a friend who was also with child.

To N.J.D. and P.C. McC.
by Veneta Donaldson

Give unto him a joyous heart,
And lift him high above the crowd;
Yet may he know that he's a part
Of all of life, from dust to shroud.

Give unto him a fervent will
To rise above a heart's despair;
But if he fails, there is still
Compassionate beauty to share.

Give unto him the need to dream,
Fulfilled by word, or sound or form;
And when the hours are not what they seem,
Release him from contingent harm.

Give unto him a spirit deep
Enveloping the human race,
Instill in him the wish to keep
The true formalities of grace.

Mold him by Thy divinity,
This child that is yet to be.


The next poem in this series can be found here: I Saw Her Standing There.

This is part of a series of poems by Veneta Donaldson. A brief bio and the beginning of the series can be found here: Veneta Donaldson: A Poet in the Family.

Veneta Donaldson: "His Mother's Prayer"

A soldier from Veneta's family photos, early 1900s
This young man was probably Veneta's mother's brother, by the family resemblance seen in his face. My aunt was a child during World War I, and a working-girl during World War II. During that time she wrote this poem, which made me teary-eyed when I read it, reminding me of my own son of that age.

His Mother's Prayer
by Veneta Donaldson

Dear God, Thy mercy I beseech
Upon my son bestow this day;
And place within his sweet, young reach
The glory of his star-bound way.
But if he seeks Thy house for rest --
So like a lone bird's trusting flight
When by Thy mighty wisdom blessed --
O guide him home through starless night.

A note about religion: Veneta was a smart, sophisticated career woman who lived and worked in one of Texas' major cities. Having been raised in a small town in the early 20th century, religion was a "given" for her. It was like the Sun coming up every morning, a normal part of everyone's life. We in the 21st century have a rather different perspective on religion in its diverse forms and expressions--sometimes rare and special, sometimes pervasive.

The next poem in this series can be found here: Reiteration.

This is part of a series of poems by Veneta Donaldson. A brief bio and the beginning of the series can be found here: Veneta Donaldson: A Poet in the Family.