Dee Thompson’s most recent poem here was Anachronism. She writes poetry about family and she has written books about being a mother to special needs adoptive children. She also writes an amazing blog, full of information, humor, affection and real-life moments.
My Daughter Sings
By Dee Thompson
My daughter’s voice seeps out from underneath her door,
And soars
Through the dark air of the upper hall
Pure and clear as Joni Mitchell’s
Melody threading about
Like beating butterfly wings
She sings.
My daughter has an auditory processing disorder.
Her brain
Doesn’t always correctly comprehend.
Yet she sings.
The radio balanced on her chest, her iPod synced.
She has no idea about singing on key,
Nor does she care.
When I try to teach her, she resists me.
So my years of vocal training, you see,
We cannot share.
Despite her handicap, despite others’ disdain,
My daughter sings.
I have never heard anything quite so beautiful.
Such beautiful images in such a poignant poem. Thanks so much for sharing, Dee.
My ex husband once told my daughter she sang flat and out of key. Thankfully, she sang anyhow. Last night she performed On My Own from Les Mis in her high school’s Broadway Night (she’s a rising junior…) She brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience. We could learn a thing or two from these youth, who just keep singing. Thanks for sharing this, just beautiful.
There is nothing like the love of a mother for her child. Nice.
This is beautiful.
Yes, wonderful and touching poem.
I love that the poem finds beauty in something that could have produced sheer frustration.