Mama Sings An Upbeat Boogie

A Poem by Michelle Gent

A Bob Dylan inspired meter Ode to my mom

My mama sings, she sings, though
There's a baby suckling at her breast
Another hangin from her elbow
The phones a-ringin , but there's a toddler
wrapped round her foot and ankle

With iron in hand and broom under armpit
She stirs soup pot with spoon between teeth
And baby clamped round her torso
Tryin to keep her brood in line, she croons

Fourth child's closin in behind
A-whinin and a-cryin
Fifth one's in station wagon, tryin to start the car
Now in neutral he's rocking and a rollin
Bit a super neighbors takin the call

My mama sings, she sings to the rafters
She sings to her lucky stars
Sixth just fell asleep watch T.V.
Right now he's her favorite child by far

My mama sings the theme from Pipi Longstocking
Sings her favorite artists songs Dion Warwick, Carol King
Whe she doesn't know the words she just hums along
Only too pleased to sing, "Hey, Hey, We're the monkeys."
To make her little beasts happy, my mama sings

My mama sings to shush her babies
Sings to soothe herself, singing keeps the blues away
Singing keeps her health
Now some may a-question mama's ways
Raisin half a dozen rambunctious kids

But she don't pay no mind much
Cause she knows just how it is
She was placed here to instill love
Placed here to provide

Happy in her rightful place
And she'd have it no other way
My mama sings.......
That's right now, sing it with me
My mama sings