Somebody's Mother

The woman was old, and ragged and gray
And bent with the chill of the winter day;
The street was wet with the recent snow,
And the woman's feet were aged and slow.



Pedestrians Crossing Slushy Intersection at Wall Street
She stood at the crossing and waited long,
Alone, uncared-for, amid the throng
Of human beings that passed her by,
not heeding the glance of her anxious eye.

Down the street with laugh and shout,
Glad in the freedom of "school let out,"

School Children Walking to School with Book Bags on their Backs, East Germany
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Finding the snow piled white and deep.

Past the old woman, so old and gray,
Hastened the children on their way,
Nor offering a helping hand to her,
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir,


Bustling View of Fulton St, with Rows of Shops and Horse Drawn Carriages

Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street;
At last came out of the merry troop
The gayest laddie of all the group.

He paused beside her and whispered low,

"I'll help you across, if you wish to go."

Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed, and without hurt or harm

He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong;
Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content.

"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,
For all she's aged, and poor, and slow,
And I hope some follow will lend a hand,
To help my mother, you understand,



A Mother Walks Her Children to School in Old Havana, Cuba
"If ever she's poor and old and gray,
When her own dear boy is fay away!"

And somebody's mother bowed her head
In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was, "God be kind to that noble boy
Who was somebody's son, and pride, and joy."

Author unknown
Allposters

Happy Mother's Day
Mimi