I Cannot Sing

I cannot sing, because when a child, 

   My mother often hushed me. 

The others she allowed to sing, 

   No matter what their melody. 

And since I’ve grown to manhood

   All music I applaud, 

But have no voice for singing, 

   So I write my songs to God. 

I have ears and know the measures, 

   And I’ll write a song for you, 

But the world must do the singing 

   Of my sonnets old and new. 

Now tell me, world of music, 

   Why I cannot sing one song? 

Is it because my mother hushed me

   And laughed when I was wrong?

Although I can write music, 

   And tell when harmony’s right, 

I will never sing better than when 

   My song was hushed one night. 

Fond mothers, always be careful; 

   Let the songs be poorly sung. 

To hush the child is cruel; 

   Let it sing while it is young.