What milk of mercy swells a woman’s breast
Where she forsakes a helpless human child
And so disdains the fruit of her own flesh,
By actions vain—love’s strongest bond defiled?
A mother’s love once pure, in deed assured,
Now doubted quite, as whims of wanton queens;
This love once true, now hereby dark immured,
For love of self, life’s fondest trust demeaned.
It once was given that a girl would grow
Into a woman, nurturing and kind,
And by love’s pledges ever there bestow
Maternal forces, hellions to align—
An ape with babe in arms was once set free,
Climbed to great heights, then dropped it from a tree.

© Loubert S Suddaby. All Rights Reserved.