Ballad of a Mother’s Heart
Jose LaVilla Tierra
The night was dark, for the moon was young
And the stars were asleep and rare;
The clouds were thick, yet Youth went out
To see his Maiden fair.
“Dear One,” he pleaded as he knelt
Before her feet, in tears,
“My love is true; why have you kept
Me waiting all these years?”
The maiden looked at him unmoved,
It seemed, and whispered low:
“Persistent Youth, you have to prove
By deeds your love is true.”
“There’s not a thing I would not do
For you, Beloved,” said he.
“Then go,” said she, “to your mother dear
And bring her heart to me.”
Without another word,
Youth left and went to his mother dear.
And opened her breast and took her heart.
He did not shed a tear!
Then back to his Maiden fair he ran,
Unmindful of the rain;
But his feet slipped and he fell down
And loud he groaned with pain!
Still in his hand he held the prize
That would win his Maiden’s hand;
And he thought of his mother dear
So kind, so sweet, so fond.
And then he heard a voice,
Not from his lips but all apart:
“Get up,” it said; “Were you hurt, Child?”
It was his mother’s heart.
How did you find the poem? Touching, is it not? Now, answer the following questions.
1. Describe the young man as a suitor.
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2. What did the maiden ask of the young man to prove his love for her? Why do you think she
did this?
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3. What kind of a son is the young man?
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4. How great is the love of the mother?
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5. What is the purpose of the author in writing the poem? What message does he want to
convey?
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6. Cite some real-life events you know showing the great love of a mother.
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Answer:
1. The young man is described as a persistent suitor who is deeply in love with the maiden. He pleads with her and expresses his love as true.
2. The maiden asks the young man to bring her the heart of his mother to prove his love for her. It's not clear why she would ask for such a task, but it may suggest that she wants to see the depth of his devotion and willingness to make sacrifices for her.
3. Based on the poem, it is suggested that the young man is a dutiful son who loves and respects his mother. He does not hesitate to carry out the request of the maiden and takes his mother's heart without shedding a tear, implying that he is willing to do whatever it takes to prove his love for the maiden.
4. The love of the mother is shown to be great, as her heart still calls out to her son even after it has been removed from her body.
5. The purpose of the author in writing the poem is unclear. However, the message that he may want to convey is the idea of sacrifice and devotion in love. The poem raises questions about the lengths that one might go to prove their love and the consequences of such actions.
6. There are many real-life events that show the great love of a mother, such as a mother sacrificing her own comfort and well-being to care for her children, a mother going to great lengths to protect her child from harm, or a mother making financial sacrifices to provide for her family. These examples demonstrate the selflessness and unconditional love that a mother has for her children.