Song For My Sisters
I've been working on a sequel to my childhood memoir, Reversible Skirt; I've also started to collect short works for Sisters Born, Sisters Found, an anthology of writings on sisterhood that I'll be editing and publishing in 2014.
When thinking about the anthology, a song I wrote for my sisters many years ago came to mind. I am considering including it at the end of the anthology and wonder how it comes across without the music. I'll type in the lyrics below. I'd appreciate it if you'd share your impressions with me.
Song For My Sisters
By Laura McHale Holland
Three little beds made in a row, sun streaming in through our open window
Days of our youth began with me racin' with you to the kitchen
Where we'd argue over who would get the Wheaties, who would eat the Rice Chex,
who would get the Corn Flakes
Did I tell you then how much I love you, sisters?
You've been always in my heart
Three ragged coats hung in the hall, three pairs of boots stoodright underneath them
I walked to school right beside you, children were cruel, called you names, now
All our clothes were second hand, I didn't understand why it should make a
difference to the others
Did I tell you then how much I love you, sisters?
You've been always in my heart
Three teenagers, babysitters, waitresses and ice cream dippers
We bought new clothes, lipstick that glowed, cologne in scents for our earlobes
Rubbing elbows in the hall, each waiting for a call from someone who we hoped
would see our beauty
Did I tell you then how much I love you, sisters?
You've been always in my heart
One scholarship, one wedding ring, one Greyhound east, three newand different lives
Life on my own, sometimes alone, I'd want a home with my sisters
Graduation came so fast, our childhood was past, we'd grown up and we had tosay goodbye now
Did I tell you then how much I love you, sisters?
You've been always in my heart
Three woman now stand tall and proud, voicing aloud plans for a saner world
Times have been worse, I've bled and hurt, cried in despair, Who will care?
And you've come flyin' to my side, wherever I did hide, and you knew I would do
the same for you
So I'm sayin' now how much I love you, sisters
You'll be always in my heart
Yes, I'm sayin' now how much I love you, sisters
You'll be always in my heart
Thanks for reading this. For details on the anthology, please visit http://wordforest.com/news-events
This post: Copyright © 2013 by Laura McHale Holland
Song was copyrighted in 1978