My Mother Never Sang The Blues

My Mother was a small-town girl 
A coal miners daughter, raised in the northern Appalachians
Joined the Navy to get out, maybe see the world
Met my father while they both were serving 
During the Korean war

So yeah, both of my parents were Korean war vets
They married in '52
Settled down, bought a tract ranch house in San Diego
Six kids later he left us all for someone new

My Mother just soldiered on 
Kept us fed, kept a roof over our heads
Never spent a day being pampered at a spa
Or a beauty salon

Found strength in the works of the Catholic Church
It took me decades to appreciate
The burden she had to carry
Doing without while providing for us
The sacrifices she had to make 

My Mother used to sing in the kitchen
After she had put all us younger kids to bed
Songs from her childhood, songs from the gospel
With a voice that still resonates sweetly in my head

Sitting at the table, reading the paper
Trusting that her older children
My sisters, my brother
Would be safe that night
Where ever they were


Happy Birthday Mom, much love and endless thanks for all you did for us.