Norberto Franco Cisneros | + Follow Poet |
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Happy In Sonnyland

Sonny sat on the floor 
in a low lit corner of the bedroom
he hugged his trumpet
as a young man they had had great times   
he reminisced of his love for his horn 

He was unable to play it well now
not since his stroke nine years ago
had stolen away his embouchure 
and destroyed his ability to sustain the notes in tune

He tried to play his horn but too often
the notes sounded like screeches from hell 
he recalled his glory years in high school
where he shone like a star   

He received two gold medals playing Rafael Mendez’ 
arrangement of the “Mendelssohn Concerto”
he was 17 years old and felt the future was his

but he was 80 now 
and still lugged his old recycled memories, 
never realizing he and the world would get old
too soon 

Nostalgia, the bane of old folks
was Sonny's saving grace 
As a young man he achieved the goals he set
no matter how insignificant they might have seemed 

And the feeling of those supreme achievements never tarnished 
those moments of struggle made his life meaningful
soon enough the time came to hit the big time
but the big time was not so welcoming

There are those who come into this world
full of aspirations but never get blessed by the hand of God 
no matter how great their desire, 
then there are the fortunate ones who are born cupped in God's hands
and are given the privilege to reveal the music of the spheres

It was Sonny’s 70th birthday when he had his stroke
he cursed the abomination that had befallen him
though the stroke marred his old age 
marvelous blessings did happen to him 

At age 24, Sonny fell in love, married a beautiful Irish woman,
had two adorable kids, later to be a pain in his butt
but the kids are married and gone now 
and all's well in Sonny Land

Sonny and his wife are still married, going on 60 years 
one could say theirs was a union made in God's cupped hands.

An added piece to this story:
Sonny's son had two marriages, one successful one not so
and several business ventures but he was lucky, he gloats with pride
because as glitchy as his life had been he had become rich

"Some guys have all the luck, huh Dad," he said.
Sonny replied, "If that be the case, son, so be it, 
Our longevity has made our love real, but we're happy for you, 
you have the money but we have real love.

Copyright © Norberto Franco Cisneros | Year Posted 2018

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