Book of My Mother

XXVIII

SONS OF MOTHERS who are still alive, never again forget that your mothers are mortal. I shall not have written in vain if one of you, after reading my song of death, is one evening gentler with his mother because of me and my mother. Be gentle with your mother each day. Show her more love than I showed my mother. Give your mother some happiness each day, that is what I say to you with the right accorded to me by regret; that is the grave message of a mourner. These words addressed to you, sons of mothers who are still alive, are the only condolences I can offer myself. While there is yet time, sons, while she is yet there, make haste, for stillness soon will be upon her face set in a faint virginal smile. But I know what you are like. Nothing will stir you from your crazy indifference as long as your mothers are alive. No son really knows that his mother will die, and all sons grow angry and impatient with their mothers, madmen that they are, but so swiftly punished.