Everyone had diamond
earrings,
And a bright gold
wedding band
She had worn out
sneakers
And a night-shift
working man.
The old cross her
Daddy gave her
Sat securely on her
chest,
She held it while she
prayed at night
Asking God to just give it a rest.
She swept the floors,
she made the beds
She kept her little
babies fed
He brought home fifty
bucks a week
But she never had bad
words to speak,
‘Cause she knew there must
be more out there
Wild wind to tangle up
their hair,
So she’d dream……….
When the kids grew up
and went to school
She went out to make
some money too
Her paycheck wasn’t
very much
She never really had
great luck,
But she remembered
what her momma said
“Pretty girl don’t
ever lose your head,
It’s a cold world out
there, ya know
So don’t ever let the
good ones go,
Hold on tightly to
that man of yours
Run your fingers
through your babies’ curls
And dream………..”
Now they’re both in
their sixties
Their kids have kids
of their own
Their little corner
city flat
Is what the both of
them call home.
He still smiles; he looks
her up and down
In her worn out little
pink night gown
He says “My sweet lady
it’s all alright,
We’ve made it through harsher
nights,
I’m right beside you
every single day,
Close your eyes now, love,
it’s all okay
So just dream……..”
Holly A. Wolti
