She was born in California
Three years before the blitzkrieg burned
War came slow, but old enough to know
She was just five when her mama died
Her father worked hard, selling words
Typed and inked on post-war stock
Big bands blared and soon gave way
To beehives and rock ‘n’ roll
(Refrain)
And through the years, she grew and flew
East to west, Africa too
The clouds were blessed to pass her by
Jets and steel across the sky
When in Rome, smiles were true
To New York City, flight 801 flew
From Mecca to Kennedy
Brother Malcolm came for tea
Theater and 60s clothes
Vietnam, conscience exposed
She met a man in Shakespeare’s clothes
Left Manhattan and Parisian rose
50 years minus a few
A mother’s love, her babies two
Paint and prose, on stage she glowed
Buried tears, poetry flowed
She walked proud, frail her bones grew
Strong and bright, smiling for all
The words stopped…came back few but true
Three months gone, away she flew
Three months gone, away she flew
By Aaron Spevack