"Mother Is Always There"

I found this poem, author unknown, and thought I'd share it here:

"Where are you going?" you'd say to him,

and "What are you going to do?"

And with a shy smile he'd toddle outside

to slay a dragon for you.

Or perhaps there was a prince to be,

or a lion to track to its lair,

For a little boy's life is a wondrous thing,

as long as his mother's there.

"Why do birds fly all in a flock?"

"How far are the stars from the ground?"

A thousand questions he'd ask of you;

a thousand answers you found.

"Please tell me what makes a puppy dog bark,

and why is the sky filled with air?"

Oh, a little boy's life is a learning thing,

as long as his mother's there.

"Sing me a tune," he'd say to you,

"Sing me some soft lullabies."

And you'd sit by his bed for a moment or two

until slowly he closed his eyes.

How quiet he'd be as you covered him up

and caressed his silken hair,

For a little boy's life is a peaceful thing,

as long as his mother's there.

"Don't cry," you'd say, as you held him close

when he'd fallen and hurt his head.

You held back a tear yourself, you know,

when you kissed the spot where it bled.

And the tears dried up, and the hurt hurt went away,

under your gentle care,

For a little boy's life is a loving thing,

as long as his mother's there.

And one day you'll look up,

as the years have sped by,

And on that day it will suddenly seem to you

that he isn't a little boy anymore,

But a fine young man grown

straight and tall and true.

How fast they have gone, those childhood years,

thank God you had them to share,

For though a little boy's life is a fleeting thing,

to a mother it's always there.