Mother, dear mother, I leapt from your womb
As the shoot from the earth, as the soul from the tomb,
And you were not gladder to be rid of me
Than I to come forth and be happy and free.

Though I was so warm in your beautiful nest,
To dance in the sunshine is what I love best;
And yet 'twas the loveliest thing that you did,
To hide me till I could no longer be hid.

For all through eternity now I shall bear
Irremovable signs of your love and your care,
And so I shall still be a part of you when
I mix in the world as a man among men.

And because of the love we gave one another
I shall know every man for my friend and my brother;
But the rarest and loveliest friends that I find
Will be those who recall your dear face to my mind.

And so I shall take you wherever I go,
And love you more truly the bigger I grow;
For the boys and the girls who'll be children of mine
Will carry your love on their brows for a sign.