A Mother’s Heart

by Avedick Isahakian (1875 - 1975)

There is a tale from the days of old,
That a young man,
An only son of a widow,
Fell in love with a young maiden.

The young woman said - "Not at all
Do you love me,
Unless you go
And bring your mother’s heart to me!"
The son confused, with head hanging lowly,
Took a step and away he turned,
And cried endlessly,
He thought and to the young woman he returned.
When she saw him, she was angered:
"Don’t you show your face again
At my door step" she said (inflicting pain),
"Until you bring her heart to me!"
A ram the young man hunted,
Took its heart,
Came and gave of his hunt,
To the young woman (whom he loved).

When she saw him, she was enraged:
"Get lost from my sight,
Unless your flesh and blood
You bring to me, your mother’s heart!"
The young man went and killed his mother,
And as he was hurrying back
He slipped and fell on his back,
As he held in his hand, the heart of his killed mother.
And the mother’s heart said in sadness
With a voice filled with sorrowness,
"O my son most precious,
Did you hurt any of your members?"

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