A SONS’ LAMENT BY JOHN M. ARRIBAS Don’t cry for me my faithful mother dear Do you weep from guilt or could it be fear I’ve been mostly guilty that’s obviously clear But you were complicit and should also be here You always defended me bearing the brunts Lying and cheating hiding my criminal stunts I was your darling never subjected to shame In spite of the obvious you shifted the blame Cajoling others so I could avoid the price You misled and lost me with selfish advice I was never punished for my wrongful acts Instead you blamed others in spite of the facts You excused my actions time after time Refusing to admit your son committed a crime I was just a child and needed parental honesty You cast out the rules I lost respect for authority You may have thought your actions were true Look where I landed, I owe it all to you Had I been held accountable for the ugly things I did But you kept shielding me long after I was a kid So next Tuesday you’ll get a good look at me When they lift the blinds and raise the gurney Yes, when they raise the gurney for all here to see Someone else should be up here right next to me