My granddaughters lived with me for a time and they loved to hear the songs from my youth.

SING ME AN OLD-TIME SONG

 

 

Sing me an old-time song, Grandma

            Said the child upon my knee

Then looking up, she smiled and said

            Please sing one just for me

 

What do you want to hear, I asked

            She handed me a book

Just pick one of my favorites

            She said with, hopeful look

 

The book was old and quite well-worn

            With favorites marked in blue

Some pages were marred by dog-ears

            And scribbles someone drew

 

She loved to hear the songs within

            And often sang along

She was quite entranced with music

            And loved the rhymes in song

 

She knew we couldn’t stop at one

            She knew I loved them, too

She knew that if we opened the book

            I’d sing her quite a few

 

She smiled at all the happy ones

            And I could hear her hum

But when I sang the old sad songs

            A few warm tears would come

 

The years have passed . . . the book is hers

            Someday a child will say

Sing me an old-time song, Grandma

            Please sing for me today

 

 

9/4/88        Phyllis DeWitt VanVleck

 

2’nd … Arkansas NPD 1988