His Mother

DEAD! my wayward boy--my own--
Not the Law's! but mine--the good
God's free gift to me alone,
Sanctified by motherhood.

"Bad," you say: Well, who is not?
"Brutal"--"with a heart of stone"--
And "red-handed."--Ah! the hot
Blood upon your own!

I come not, with downward eyes,
To plead for him shamedly,--
God did not apologize
When He gave the boy to me.

Simply, I make ready now
For His verdict.--You prepare--
You have killed us both--and how
Will you face us There!