• BALLAD OF A MOTHER'S HEART


    The night was dark, for the moon was young
    And the stars were asleep and rare;
    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 look 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 ope'd her breast and took her heart.
    He did not shed tear!

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

    Still in his hand he held his prize
    That would win his Maiden's hand;
    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.