Friday, September 07, 2007

Mama Says Om - Lullaby

It's September, and there are slow turnings all around us, shorter days and longer nights, a gentle harvesting and cooler evening temperatures, great trees slowly withdrawing nutrients from their leaves, looking inward and downward to their roots and sliding into a deep restful slumber.

Who sings a lullaby to the woodland in autumn? Is it the stately herons, geese and loons on their flight south? Is it the little green frogs who dwell in the Clyde river and the coyotes on the hill at sunset? Is it the iridescent barn swallows all lined up in choirs on rural telephone wires and eager to migrate? Who sings a lullaby to the flocks of departing birds and the "soon to hibernate" residents of hedgerow, field and marsh?

I hadn't thought about lullabies in some time, but looking back at the multitudinous bedtimes of small brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, children and (now) grandchildren, it seems to me that George Gershwin's beautiful lullaby from Porgy and Bess has always been the preferred lullaby in our family, and Cleo Laine's rendition is the best, one sung (unlike my own rendering for little ones at bedtime) in a voice that warm, resonant and spun of pure velvet.

Summertime, and the living is easy.
Fish are jumping, and the cotton is high.
Your daddy's rich, and your mama's good looking,
so hush little baby, don't you cry.

One of these mornings, you're going to rise up singing.
Then you'll spread your wings, and you'll take to the sky,
but till that morning there's nothing can harm you
with your daddy and mama standing by.

Summertime, and the living is easy
Fish are jumping, and the cotton is high
Your daddy's rich, and your mama's good looking
So hush little baby, don't you cry

Written for the lovely mamas at Mama Says Om.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh, just what I needed to read and to hear...a lullaby. Even if I am just beginning my Saturday morning.

With gratitude and much fondness,
Prairie Star

mandaroo63 said...

Your writing is a lullaby. It is always so smooth and tranquil and soothing.....lovely.

daringtowrite said...

Such a wonderful lullaby for the voice and ears. And, such an exquisite heron photo. I know it takes your good eye and talent to create such a beautiful image, but please tell me (again?) what make and model of camera you are using and if you are also taking advantage of some photo software (unless that's a secret)so that I can set my sights on such equipment when I able to afford the purchase. :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, I didn't know that was a Gershwin tune. I just knew it as a Janis Joplin song.