• ★ Ballad of the Mother’s Heart ★


    The night was dark, for the moon was young
    And the stars were sleepy and more;
    The clouds were thick yet youth went out
    To see his maiden fair

    “Dear one” he pleaded as he knelt
    Before her feet in tears
    “My love is true; why have you kept
    Me waiting all these years?”

    The maiden looked at him unmoved
    It seemed and whispered low
    “Persistent youth, you have to prove
    By deeds your love is true.”

    “There’s not a thing I would not do
    For you Beloved,” said he
    “Then go”, said she, “to your mother dear
    And bring her heart to me”

    Without another word, Youth left
    And went to his Mother dear
    And opened her breast and took her heart
    He did not shed a tear

    Then back to his maiden fair he ran,
    Unmindful of the rain;
    But his feet slipped down he fell
    And loud he groaned with pain

    Still his hand he held the prize
    That would win his maiden’s heart
    And he thought of his mother dear;
    So kind, so sweet, so fond

    And then he heard a voice, not from
    His lips but all apart;
    “Get Up!” it said “were you hurt child”
    It was his mother’s heart
    crying