Leaning Into the Notes

By Kelli J Gavin

When she sings, it isn’t just something to be heard
But something to be experienced
Elongating her neck, her mouth forming each new sound
Eyes squinting shut, feeling every note
The rise and the fall
Wanting to communicate what she is experiencing
How the music is changing her
Trained breaths accentuating the melody
The music becoming her act of worship
Holding herself close by the elbows or cupping her open hands
Touching her heart in adoration, then her hands shooting up to the Heavens
Each motion unplanned or choreographed
She is present and in the moment
I feel honored watching my daughter sing
To witness her leaning into each note
It is all something to be remembered, treasured and encouraged
When she is old enough to start her own life away from me
I know I will still desire to revel in her voice
When I am an old woman
I pray my daughter will sing for me in the dead of night if pain takes ahold
Holding my hand and calming my heart
Then, finally able to rest my weary body
All that I will care to remember is
Joy will have been experienced in this life when my daughter sings
And what a mighty fine life it has been witnessing her leaning into the notes

Kelli J Gavin of Carver, Minnesota is a Writer and Professional Organizer. With over 300 short stories and poems published and posted online, her work can be found with Clarendon House Publications, Sweetycat Press, 300 South Publishing, Linden Books, The Ugly Writers, Zombie Pirates Publishing, Setu, The Story Pub, Cut 19, Otherwise Engaged, Flora Fiction, Margins Magazine, The Basil O’Flaherty, The Rye Whiskey Review, Some Good News, Sweatpants and Coffee, and Southwest Media among many others. Kelli’s first two books were released in 2019 (“I Regret Nothing- A Collection of Poetry and Prose” and “My Name is Zach- A Teenage Perspective on Autism”). She has co-authored over 40 anthologies. 

www.kellijgavin.blogspot.com

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