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UNTIL THAT DAY

My parents met on a New York subway

back before World War II

Dad said “Aren’t you one

of Judge Crawford’s daughters?”

Mom said . . . how do you do?”

That’s how the conversation started

above the clickity clack

on a train from the Bronx to Manhattan

when two 20-somethings began to chat

CHORUS:

Until that day

what can I say

they were two young commuters

long before there were computers

until that day

what can I say?

stars align when

love is kindly

on display

First thing they did after they married

was to move north 50 miles up

to live the life bucolic

drinking from the loving cup

the children came first one

then another and another

I am the fourth of nine

they did the best they knew how

to keep us kids in line

It was never easy

with a family that size

thank God for our Black Labrador Spanky

with his gentle, trusting eyes

often Spanky

was the only one in our house to be

loved by everyone . . . unconditionally

My oldest sister went to nursing school

my oldest brothers were college bound

soon I was too, but for much of time

I was lost until I found that

music gave me purpose

so I saved every dime

finally quit my day job

though it took me a long long time

The five younger kids all made their way

in science sports and history

one because a therapist

one became a journalist

he’s a bit of a mystery

most got married some divorced

some have kids who are now grown

I keep up with their exploits

cause they text me on my phone

Yes I’m riding the NYC subway

staring at this screen

I look up - there’s a little boy

pestering his mom

she looks all of 19

a lovely girl sporting earbuds

near a guy with earbuds too

they’re both staring at screens

and for all we know

she’s in Brooklyn

he Katmandu

I want to introduce them to each other

and say, “Kids, open your eyes

standing right beside you

might be a sweet surprise”

but I say nothing as this subway

just rumbles into the dark

every now and then I remember

as I disembark

that years ago

a conversation started

above the clickity clack

on a train from the Bronx to Manhattan

when two 20-somethings began to chat

on the day they started talking

everything was new

you gotta look up from your cell phone

so this can happen to you

CHORUS:

Until that day

what can I say?

they were two young commuters

long before there were computers

until that day

what can I say?

stars align when

love is kindly

on display

Credits:

Christine Lavin: vocal and guitar

Steve Doyle: bass

Brian Bauers: vocal harmony

Daniel Glass: percussion