Her Dreams

Mommy always wanted

To be famous

She would have us (my sister and me)

Sing

In all the talent shows

But I could not carry the harmony

Then she had me

Sing

Alone

Though The Isley Brothers

Always won

Ronald’s sweet voice and Vernon

Doing “the Itch”

Sort of like Michael Jackson

Doing “the Moon Walk”

So I and all others

Lost

We sang

In harmony

On our front deck

“September in the Rain”

And our neighbors loved it

Especially Mrs. Morris who

Covered lightly with a quilt

Clapped after each song

Then while waiting

For the Number 16 Bus

She would say:

“This Is June/Hold your tune”

And we had to sing

“My Blue Heaven”

“But Mommy ... my sister would say ... 

No one is out here”

Maybe someone will come by

And hear us

So we sang

Until the bus arrived

She and my sister sat

Together

I sat on the other side

Alone