Just One Word

by Pippin O'Leary

Soft and sweet, the lullaby plays
A song Mother hummed in gone by days.
A soft sweet little tune, words unknown for years.
The melody to sooth my pain, relieve fears.

But now the years have gone by, and Mother is older.
I croon the tune to her, as her fingers grow colder.
And she is gone, another leaf in the wind.
A soul is released, now free from mortal sin.

Down the road Grief strikes, as painful memories arise.
Guilt surfaces, and without her comfort a small part of me dies.
In desperation I hum to myself, only to find
the piece of solace has fled my mind.

I look everywhere, asking around
About a song my mother hummed, just that small little sound.
The lonely sound in my head, not quite right they atone
I can’t find my consolation, I have to face my demons alone.

Months and years later, I find myself going through the tape
That she left me, and as a song plays the hair stands up on the nape
of my neck, as a sweet sad song floats out of the speakers.
To my shock, words come out as well, following the melody.

The tune my mother hummed, without words was a song
about heartbreak of remorse, shame, things done wrong.
I laughed softly, a counter-point to the music
So this was the reason my mother never sang the lyrics

She gave me hope in the wordless song, a world that didn’t need
to be fixed.
She tried to spare me the sorrow, and show me a better side
Of a dark world with dark songs that masquerade as a guide.

I’ll never forget the lesson it taught me, simple may it be.
Even the most beautiful thing has been touched by tragedy.
But within this sorrow, the song gave me comfort now bittersweet
I hope to tell her this, the next time we meet.



 

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