She asked my comment – should she intervene?
Sit down and look sincerely in his eyes,
and tell him to escape the liquored scene
he lives with? To abandon compromise
and leave the lady love he doesn’t love?
Her son has always acted like he heeds
advice from her. Should she say better shove
off now, and move to satisfy your needs?

Oh dear, I said. Your boy is 56.
He hasn’t asked your counsel. It’s worth less
than nothing, unsolicited. The fix
could be in psychotherapy, I guess.
If you can steer him down that avenue,
that may be all your mother love can do.