Did You Ever Wonder

What I miss most is the singing, wishing we, too, were Rich Men,

Dreaming along with Tevye.

When did all of that end?

We joined voices with Miss Andrews, singing at the top of our lungs,

Way up there, high on the mountain.

When did it all go wrong?

When kids came along, we threw back our heads in a gleeful quartet

Of clarinets, violins, drums and horns.

Did we ignore the threat?

We loved Tagalog* caroling, with Fil-Am* members, door to door:

Malagayang Pasko* and Kling Kling Kling.*

When did we begin to war?

At the family talent shows we danced Michael’s Billie Jean

And you shook Elvis’ “amoy suka”*.

When did the fun turn mean?

But a hush crept in unnoticed, our glad crescendos were displaced

By resentment-filled silences.

When did our songs become debased?

No longer did we find delight in creating sweet melody,

But shrewdly measured affection.

When did our suite become a threnody*?

How did Sunrise turn to Sunset? Why did the verses start stinging?

How did rhythm lose its power?

When did we stop singing?

Naida Lavon

03-02-10

Write Around Portland Workshop

*Tagalog: The Filipino language

*Fil-Am: The Filipino-American Assoc.

*Malagayang Pasko: Merry Christmas

*Kling Kling Kling: Filipino version of Jingle Bells

* amoy suka: Some Filipinos thought Elvis was singing amoy suka (vinegar smell)

when he sang “I’m all shook up.”

* Threnody: Requiem