Gifts
©2000 Andrew Calhoun, unrecorded
Mom bought sister a silver flute
In a thin black case, with silver buckles
With monogrammed initials to boot
And sister practiced the curve of her knuckles
For scale upon scale, in her new band suit
Dad came home with a basset hound
He gave to brother to train and love
With marching orders to drag him around
On a leather leash, with a chain and a glove
It was "come," "sit," "stay," and "heel," and "down."
Our star's ablaze and that's not all
It's fury and faith in a golden ball
It's home and hearth in a flowing gown
Rise and follow the world around
You gave me a stone to keep
Its pale veins form a double wreath
To guard my bedside as I sleep
With a book for dreams, and a bookmark leaf
You gave me a stone to keep