A MOTHER'S LAMENT

Who do you blame
 When a leaf Falls off a tree?
The wind that blew it away?
The branch that never let it stay,
Or the leaf, wanting to let go, To break free?

A hundred miles lie between us, My son.
The roads, the seas, the vines curled
The trees, the stars, another world.
To them, I shall let you go, my only one!

Heartless and cold, your mother is not
Anger, despair and grief, she does feel.
But to your love’s strange demands, I shall keel
And in the cave of tears, not be caught.

So go, my son! Live your dream!
Go to the crafty world, Her tempting sheen!
I shall not stop. I refuse to weep.
You, from your heart’s deafening roar, I shall not keep.
                                              

                                               The leaf has fallen off its tree.                                              
                                                Leaving me in his love’s clutches, and him – free.