Aunt Helen

My parents never took me To a concert or a show. The city wasn’t where they ever Felt the need to go. But luckily, I was exposed To things that did enchant. For that I owe a debt To the umbrella of my aunt. As metaphor, she took me in And underneath her wing, She opened up the world to me, The joy that it could bring. The Philharmonic, Broadway shows, Hot chocolate made from scratch; The special times I spent with her Nobody else could match. The other meaning’s literal – For just like Cinderella, I felt transformed as I would twirl My very first umbrella. It was my favorite gift from her – Emblazoned with my name; There haven’t been too many since That made me feel the same. Aunt Helen will be laid to rest But she will always be A person who knew just the way To reach the soul of me.