Mother's Music

"Pack up you troubles

in your old kit bag

and smile, smile, smile."

My mother used to sing

me that song every once

in a while.

-=-

"While you Lucifer to

light your fag"

first time ever hearing

a cigarette called that

who knew someday I'd be

taking a drag.

-=-

"What's the use in worrying

it never was worthwhile"

I would sing along as

we drove downtown

it really passed away

the miles.

-=-

The songs one remembers

from childhood

whether bad or good

whether happy or sad

whatever they might be

they all creep up

as a distant memory

calling out to me.

-=-

I also knew that it

was a long way to

Tipperary but I didn't

know the way I only knew

that is where the sweetest

girls stayed.

-=-

My mother's songs stay

with me and follow me

through my days

Moon River always

seemed like a place

I'd like to see somehow

along the way.

-=-

The Ray Coniff singers

inviting me to the Cabaret

always seemed like it

would be a cool place

to go soon since there's no

sense sitting alone in

my room as they sang

in unison.

-=-

I knew when I was young

that if I was going to

San Francisco to wear

flowers in my hair.

All thanks to my mother

who sang about how

wonderful it was there.

-=-

I actually spent a lot of

time dreaming about California

but never went until I was

in my 30s but I heard how

all the leaves were brown

and the skies were grey

funny enough I never saw

it that way.

-=-

Now I spend my days

Sitting in morning sun

Sitting until the evening

comes, watching the ships

roll in, and watching em

roll away again.

-=-

I did make it to the

dock of the bay.

_____________________

1. Pack up your troubles 2. Long way to Tipperary 3. Moon River 4. Cabaret 5. San Fransisco 6. California Dreamin 7. Sitting on the Dock of the bay

Thanks for reading! -Sam