Leena

somewhere some time...
perhaps tonight

a young girl
rests her head
on her grandmother's lap
watching Leena Horne
on the Dick Cavett Show
some sixty, or so, years ago

Grandma nestles the child
closer and whispers
honey
honey...
do you hear that...
do you hear that...
coughing

do you hear that coughing
in the background
that's me, that's me
many years ago
when I was young
about your age

I was a big fan
of Leena Horne
back then,
when I was young
and I wanted
to hear her sing
and speak
so much
that I asked my father
to drive over
to the studio
because I'd heard
on the radio
that she'd be there
later on TV.

and there she was
my idol, my hero
Leena Horne
not twenty feet away
so eloquent, so
stylish and beautiful
Full of poise and class
and as witty as I'd dreamed

and then, suddenly
from nowhere
came this scratchy
itchy cough
it just
wouldn't stop
and only got worse

the ushers
with great politeness
escorted me
from my seat
to an outer room

gave me some water
and a hard candy
they tried to help
consoled me
but the cough
just got worse

I cried and coughed
coughed and cried
and without monitors 

in the room

like there might be today
I missed Leena's entire
interview and song

Leena
always the sweetheart
had heard about
what had happened
and after the applause
after her exit
from the stage
she sought me out

Leena bent down
and hugged me
dried my tears
with the sweater
she had about
her shoulders
and kissed me
on the cheek

Leena told me
it was alright
that I was brave
and sweet
spoke to my father
and then gave me
a ride home

The red sweater
the one you're 

covered with now 

was...


-dp-

2-12-16

> dedicated to my Dad, who for unexplained reasons had a framed picture of Leena Horne on his desk and would claim she was his wife.