The Virgin Mother

My little love, my darling,     You were a doorway to me;     You let me out of the confines     Into this strange countrie,     Where people are crowded like thistles,     Yet are shapely and comely to see.     My little love, my dearest     Twice have you issued me,     Once from your womb, sweet mother,     Once from myself, to be     Free of all hearts, my darling,     Of each heart's home-life free.     And so, my love, my mother,     I shall always be true to you;     Twice I am born, my dearest,     To life, and to death, in you;     And this is the life hereafter     Wherein I am true.     I kiss you good-bye, my darling,     Our ways are different now;     You are a seed in the night-time,     I am a man, to plough     The difficult glebe of the future     For God to endow.     I kiss you good-bye, my dearest,     It is finished between us here.     Oh, if I were calm as you are,     Sweet and still on your bier!     God, if I had not to leave you     Alone, my dear!     Let the last word be uttered,     Oh grant the farewell is said!     Spare me the strength to leave you     Now you are dead.     I must go, but my soul lies helpless     Beside your bed.