by Kelly

kid songs in the car —

I’d forgotten all about

three blind mice

One of my friends gave me a 3 CD collection of classic children’s songs with H came into my life. Since he’s been home, those CDs have proven themselves to be a well chosen gift. H loves them! I’m quite sick of them, if truth be told, but I’m continually amazed by the song collection.

Some of the songs are tunes I’d forgotten all about, songs I probably hadn’t thought about — let alone sung — in decades, and yet here they are coming through my car stereo and there I am singing every single word. Three Blind Mice is a perfect example. It’s even sung in a round on the CD, and I’m pretty certain I sang Three Blind Mice in a round in elementary school.

But beyond all the “a-ha” moments of suddenly discovering I know all the words to all these songs I’d forgotten, I also have these “what the f—?” moments where I find myself listening to one of these “kid” songs and thinking, “Who decided this was appropriate for kids?” For example, again, Three Blind Mice. The lady cuts off their tails with a carving knife and it’s the topic for a cute little ditty for wee children? Really?

And consider this one:

Oh where have you been Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Oh where have you been charming Billy?

I have been to see my wife, she’s the apple of my life. She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

What? His wife is so young she can’t leave home? Putting aside the rather obvious question about pedophilia, who decided this was an appropriate song for children?

by Kelly

he tempts fate

40 miles of gas in tank

30 miles til home

by Alison

all these souls

driving different directions –

hot August sun

by Alison

cold car, warm highways –

I rub my eyes and accept

I now need glasses

by Alison

cool April –

I spend the day looking

for lost car keys

by Alison

a unicyclist

passes me on my way home –

bright baby blue skies

by Alison

I burn through the gas

driving to get here and there –

clovers peak through snow

by Alison

driving home through mist –

no siblings, daughter’s pulled

into the music

by Alison

Blue VW

stop riding my tail! I’ll

only go slower

by Alison

sun and snow flicker

in my rearview mirror –

ahead blue sirens