~My mother never ~

a beautiful Chinese caftan draped her body
she drifted across the room with grace and music
the taste of wine lingered in the air
my mother was more beauty than beauty was fair

she spoke about a love’s obsession
a man so bold he stole her heart with passion
she told me stories of things that past
how this tortured man won her heart

a wicked education i got from her
many mistress’s my mother had to bear
i drunk from the juice of her life
so that mine would cause me no strife

my mother never lied - the stories she told
have made me wise from the earth of my soul
my armour i wear battered and bruised
but no man will ever make me a fool.