Song of the Heart

I sang a song as I passed along
Of the one I loved most dear.
I sang a song midst the thick of the throng
Of the one I longed to be near.
Not a melody rich with cadences
Nor trills and heart-rending runs,
Nor a rhyme in step with the dances,
Nor a technique which dazzles and stuns.
Just a simple little tune, I sang—
“Two steps to a stride” marking time
While the tinkle and merry laughter rang,
singing the light of faith in rhyme—
‘twas a song of the heart, I sang!
I sang a song as I passed along,
Of the one I loved most dear—
I sang this song midst the thick of the throng
Of the one I longed to be near.
(1920s)

Since the original is typed and has only one correction on it (fourth line “longed” was originally “loved”), I have a hunch this was written by mom in her earlier years, maybe during college. It has the musical motif, which suggests to me she was still playing the violin, maybe, and the fact that it has a theme of “longing” for someone suggests she was not married and this may be a romantic sentiment. Or, could it even be about dad during their courting days in 1929-1930?? We did not see much of this side of mom, the romantic or outward display of affection. She was a more reserved cultured woman and this controlled poetic expression is probably her best way of expressing this side of herself. I don’t remember mom ever saying “I love you” to me or dad or anyone else, but I never gave this much thought. Her love was so deep and real it was experienced directly in her eyes, movement and tone that he words just weren’t needed and, maybe just weren’t much a part of her prairie culture's vocabulary.