'Leaving Sunshine, Song Ran Away Poem by Margaret Alice

Leaving Sunshine

Father’s code of love: Protection,
leave early, drive safely; I am
urged to leave before I’m ready

Sister’s anger, freedom is her
metier, hates prescription,
rejects concern, turns ugly;

I’m glad to go when hard words
are said, voices raised in anger,
eyes flashing, unable to reconcile

It is a life I cannot accept,
this habitual determination to get
their own way conceding nothing

yet they are offended when I protest
it is difficult to visit; the noise
and aggression deters me -

all I want is happy conversation;
mother rejecting my theories
based on quantum physics,

my father glad I like the music
he plays, enjoying me dancing
and singing for him

I wish good fairies and
guardian angels to create joy
and come to care for him,

I need them there when I leave,
this is MY code of love:
Leaving sunshine

   
The Song Ran Away

Finally, after many abortive attempts,
managed to give my father goose-bumps
singing his favourite songs with just
the right voice, the one my singing
teacher rejected, the one cultivated
in church choir practice

It was a magnificent feeling when
father declared: “You gave me goose-bumps
today, ” he got up to leave but my mother
started to play “You Were A Part Of That
Summer, ” a beautiful melody, with
fantastic accompaniment

Then my sister’s rendition of “Wondrous
Grace Of Jesus” kept him enthralled –
until he remembered the march of time,
urged me to drive home before
the streets become too dangerous
Sister was adamant “Stay until YOU
wish to leave”, father blustered and
thundered until I too had goose-bumps,
of fright, a replay of my youth, they’ve
not learned to respect one another’s
views, or to argue calmly,

I cannot abide such aggression,
and the song ran away…