"Hey, Mother Leeds"
(The Midwife's Lament)

                Part I
(Takes place in borning room in Leed's farmhouse)
That night, it was stormy; the hour was late.
We brought forth the Leed's babe to a life doomed for hate.
"Hey, Mother Leeds, yer little ones here.
Lookit that tiny face; ain't he a dear?
I know, Mother Leeds, you say thirteens a curse,
but he has his needs; take him to nurse. 
Please don't ignore him; he's just the same
as those come before him - O give him a name."
But all of our pleadin' fell on her deaf ear,
as she pushed him and screamed, we shivered with fear.
"Hey, Mother Leeds, you know its yer place
to hold him awhile, kiss his tormented face.
O, see how he changes.  O, hear his poor wail.
There he goes up the chimley - don't it chill yer soul
for that pitiful chile to take on sech a role."

                                      Part II
(Takes place on Leeds doorstep - a week later)
This forenoon me 'n Sophie walked across town
to see if there's truth in the tales goin' round.
"Hey, Mother Leeds, don't you dare shet that door.
We jes heard them talkin' down in the store.
Strange things is hap'nin' - don't you wonder why
henhouses been robbed and cows is gone dry?
They're sayin' it's  yer chile; now, ain't you ashame?
Poor tortured youngun, and jes you to blame."
Las' night walkin' home we looked up at the moon.
Saw a beast silhouetted that shrieked like a loon.
"Hey, Mother Leeds, yer poor tormented child
is flying on bats wings up there in the wild.
When you hear the dogs braying y'll know, Mother Leeds,
he's aroun' and yer fambly will grieve for his deeds.
But he'll bear the brunt of that witch spell you gave
and he'll haunt you until you are deep in yer grave."

-Lillian Arnold Lopez "Pineylore"

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