The Singer
NOTE: --2009--My mother just received her five-year-survival pin for staying in remission from ovarian cancer for five years! She won the battle! Yes! Thank you, God!
(2008--My mother is now in remission for advanced ovarian cancer, going on four years now. Yeah! She has a five-year survival rate. All tests came back negative for her four-year mark. At five years, she's considered cured! This is dedicated to her, my precious mother. At her five-year-anniversary, you'll be reading this tribute again. Be blessed!)
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Second to the youngest of a family of eight,
This little girl loved to sing.
Relatives, friends, even strangers too,
Gathered round to hear her voice ring.
Often, they'd stand her on a table or chair
And she'd coyly oblige to entertain,
Lifting sweet vocals, stroking song after song,
Reciting lyrics in an unbroken chain.
When she grew up and bore babes of her own,
She'd sing to them sweet lullabyes.
Infants soothed by this mother's sweet gift,
Found mystical lands beneath sleeping eyes.
As children grew, songs instilled lessons,
Bringing laughter, while others brought tears.
Tiny hearts pumped with the birth of compassion,
Like "Chariots of Fire" fueled by love through the years.
Carousels, silver moons, monkeys with combs,
Alligators bathing in our tub,
Sent us giggling when it shared a chocolate eclair
With three naked men singing "Rubadub-dub!"
At times Mom tugged a song from the stars,
As if prompted, such lyrics to share.
I never really listened to lectures so much,
These songs are what caused me to care.
"Somewhere over the Rainbow," helped me believe,
Like a bird, I could fly too.
Her voice lent belief, lyrics gave me wings,
And, in nightdreams and daydreams, I flew!
"Que Sera, Sera, What will be, will be . . ."
Serene vocals simply helped me comprehend,
The future is not always our's to see,
Yet never fear what's around that next bend.
In church, my mother's range rose angelic,
Adding heaven's gift to every song sung.
At home, we all learned the simplicity of life,
As we all joined in for sing-along fun.
As seasons unfold, her hum misses now and then,
Still her songs dance like prisms of light.
Translucent harmony like a rainbow's hue
Each note soars like colors in flight.
She'll never stop singing and neither will I;
This legacy she didn't keep as her own.
I've added tones to our rainbow of song,
Singing colors of harmony and tone.
At each rainbow's end, generations have grown,
More voices lend rich color to life.
As babes sleep in peace and the old reminisce
We've found solace in turmoil and strife.
I've learned more from the words of songs sung to me,
Than any scolding or lecture or talk.
The greatest lesson I learned which I, too, passed on:
It's not the journey that matters most . . . it's the walk.
(Sing to your children. They'll never forget it.)
Honorable mention
Adding your comment:
sing!
I was raised with music and performing too. My Mother was in a trio that peformed in the USO. She had songs that shaped our inner beings and gave us such esteem. ( she did the 'tango' with other emotions like her temper..lol, but love succeeded in measure!).
This is a sweet piece of work to your mother. It reminds me of Coalminer's Daughter.
Thanks for the chance to experience such a good piece of poetry, for sure cant wait to see some more!
