Once there were two women
Who never knew each other
One you do not remember
The other you call Mother.

Two different lives
Shaped to make yours one.
One became your guiding star
The other became your sun.

The first gave you life
And the second taught you to live in it
The first gave you a need for love
And the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality
The other gave you a name
One gave you the seed of a talent
The other gave you an aim.

One gave you emotions
The other calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile
The other dried up your tears.

One gave you up-
It was all that she could do.
The other prayed for a child
And God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me
Through your tears,
The age-old questions
Through the years,

heredity or environment –
Which are you the product of?
Neither, my darling, neither
Just two different kinds of Love.