The Little Shepherd Boy

He was born a little shepherd boy
Who had a secret dream
He longed to know a bigger world
Beyond field and mountain stream

His mother knew with sadness
Buried deep within her heart
One day would come when he would say
The time had come to part

It was with a heavy heart she said "Goodbye"
To the son she loved so dear
And as the years rolled slowly by
She tried hard to hide her fears

Each day she'd scan the distant hills
But her son never did appear
And every night her pillow
Was drenched with falling tears

Lonely and old she sat alone
Warmed only by the fire
Until one night she heard a knock
And the door was opened wide

There stood a tall dark stranger
And as she backed away in fear
He reached out to touch her
And called her "Mama Dear"

The tear drops flowed  between them
As she held him to her heart
And heard him say - Mama I'm home again
And I'll never more depart.

Gladys Young