Oh Mother

Oh mother, hold me in your womb - safe and secure, You do not judge me, you do not call me names, Except when you are encouraging me, Grow little bud and bloom - you whisper in the night. I nestle sweet against your bosom, Your heart beats strongly through my body, You do not tell me that I am wrong, And I crane to hear the lessons you will show me. Oh mother, watch the pretty dancing lights, Colors bloom within my palms, and fairies - Dance in the moonlight as I hum, You smile gently following their nimble moves. You stroke my hair, The bristles of the brush soft against my curls, Your fingers gentle through my golden wheat mane. The fire burns in the pit. Oh mother, you become sick with worry, Papa has been gone from war, Brother is to go away, To join him, you fear in the grave. I hold you and grow adult worries. My dress ' s become too tight, I get horrid pains late at night, The bleeding colors the light of the moon, I fear death is the cause. Oh Mother, I sit by your grave, You gave your last breath, When Papa lost his mind in a fit of rage The battles and blood saturated his eyes, You drowned in the well, I still cry late at night. I sit and rock and brush my hair, Just like you would when you were still here, And my innocence seemed without flaw, The dog nuzzles up to me - his love without cause. I am old now, to not yet be married, Six and ten years and I have not had a baby, The men in the village watch me with darkening eyes, I wish from them I could run and hide, I have not met one who could catch my gaze, Perhaps I will be a spinster, alone in old age. Oh Mother, I wish how we would talk, You taught me of magic, You filled my young heart, You told me of the kindness Papa once held, That kindness disappeared once Papa killed. He yells in the night, Of dark things that haunt his mind, He drinks through the day, Passing out before dinner time, And I bring in the wee harvest, I've managed to grow, I feel so alone, I feel so very cold.