Magdalena Ball #35: The Singer

The Singer

She gave up her career

the Borscht Belt

glamorous dresses and sexy heels

victory rolls and applause

exchanged for family

we all knew it

but there was no resentment

her music was DNA shared freely

she sang with breakfast

It’s so easy to say good morning

her voice put me to sleep at night

just a baby’s prayer at twilight

as if all of life were a Broadway musical

that would resolve to a happy ending

the world was full of trouble

I grew up knowing that well
danger lurked everywhere

in the streets near our tenement 

her house was always safe

I would sit at her kitchen bench

while she cooked in a frilly apron

laughing at her own jokes

percolating an endless pot of coffee

and above all

singing songs in a rich vibrato

all about war, love and the endless river.