Wish I Was Her
© 2011 Simonette Jackson

Wish I was that pillow cradling your head. 
wish I was that ol’ Rolling Stone shirt you wear to bed
wish I was the Catcher in the Rye 
and be read by you (oh)  so many times
wish I was her	
wish I was her
wish I was her

Wish I was that chapstick soothing your dry lips
topstitching on your Levi jeans rubbing at your hips
wish you’d sing me like you sing “Paint it Black”
then you’d know me line by line, word for word, front to back
wish I was her
wish I was her
wish I was her
the girl who’s stroking your hair while you lay on her lap
the girl you’re spooning on afternoons while you nap
the girl who’s tracing your lips like she’s tracing a treasure map 
from your mouth, down your throat, to your heart

Wish I was that headphone pressed against your ear
I’d whisper over and over again “I love you, I love you “
wish I may, wish I might be the girl you hold tonight
wish you’d look at me, really look at me, and see me for the first time
but you’d wish I was her
you’d still wish I was her
wish I was her



Wish I Was Her (not a mommy song)

Matchbox Car
© 2011 Simonette Jackson

He is waiting with his matchbox car
by the window, he’s wondering where you are
and when you pull up and park under the mulberry tree
from the kitchen I can hear him shouting, “Daddy is here!”
And I know you’re tired
and you’d rather not be bothered
you can shower him with toys, but all he wants is time
time to play with his father

You know he’s watching, copying the way you move
the way you love me, he’s learned to hold my door open like you 
and all the stories you’ve read him and all the prayers he’s heard you say
I bet, like you, he’ll race matchbox cars with his children someday
Yeah I know you’re tired
sometimes you’d rather not be bothered
 you can turn the TV on, but all he wants is time
time to play with his father
There’s a tire missing from his favorite car
the red one you gave him when he turned three	
there’s a missing tooth from his big wide grin
when you let him  win
And I know you’re tired
sometimes you’d rather not be bothered
with all the people on this earth, all he wants is time
time to play with his father

He is waiting with his matchbox car


Matchbox Car

Seahorses (Beautiful)
© Simonette Jackson 2007

When he touches cobwebs he finds seahorses
diamonds when he looks through a chain link fence
doesn’t mind the traffic, he just counts the cars
as they drive, drive, drive
when all I see are tail lights and white lines
Wish that I had his eyes
see the world and call it beautiful
his eyes
brown like mine
when he looks at me he calls me, calls me
beautiful

He shows me how the rainbow swirls in oil and water
points out all the colors on graffiti’d walls
plucks a dandelion head and calls it a flower
and then blows, blows, blows
when all I see are weeds stuck between my toes 
Wish that I had his eyes
see the world and call it beautiful
his eyes
brown like mine
when he looks at me he calls me, calls me
beautiful

When did cotton castles turn into clouds
when did it all turn gray
turn it back again (turn it back again)
and help me see like a child

Wish that I had his eyes
see the world and call it beautiful
his eyes
brown like mine
when he looks at me he calls me Mommy
beautiful

My baby is so beautiful… 
When he touches cobwebs he finds seahorses




Seahorses (Beautiful)

How to Fly
© 2011 Simonette Jackson
Have you seen this baby picture
that’s you clinging on my finger
and there’s your daddy waiting up ahead
with his open arms saying “at’a girl you’re almost there”
Like a brand new bird on the last day of spring
on tippy toes and untried wings
but that’s when it happens, only when you try
it’s while you’re falling you learn how to fly

Remember taking off the training wheels
I’ve lost count how many band aids been peeled
now here you are falling head over heels
with a brown eyed boy (hmmm)
Like a brand new bird on the last day of spring
with eager heart and a song to sing
but that’s when it happens, only when you try
it’s while you’re falling you learn how to fly

And from the safety of the nest, to no safety nets at all
I take a leap of faith each time I watch you fall
Like a brand new bird on the last day of spring
on tippy toes and untried wings
but that’s how it happens, only when you try
it’s while you’re falling
it’s while you’re falling, yeah
it’s while you’re falling
 you learn how to fly, fly, fly


How To Fly

End of the World Lullaby
© 2011 Simonette Jackson

And if the sun goes super nova
I’ll give you shade
and if the dead come back to life
don’t be afraid
cause I’ll be here beside you
yeah I’ll be here beside you
with a parasol and a shotgun on my shoulder
and know that I will love you forever

And if the polar ice cap melts 
I’ll be your lifeguard
if nuclear bombs rain on our heads
I’ll dig a shelter in the yard
Yeah I’ll be here beside you
I’ll be here beside you
with a floating device and canned goods in the cellar
and know that I will love you forever
Close your eyes now
and dream of dolphin smiles 
go to sleep now
and when you wake you’ll find that all is right

Should all the trees be bulldozed over
I’ll bring you air
 if white, red, black, pale horsemen ride
we’ll say a prayer, say a prayer
and I’ll be here beside you
always here beside you
with oxygen tanks and a crucifix on the dresser
and know that I will love you forever
and know that I will love you forever
 


End-of-the-World Lullaby

Vesper & Lull are Mike Burawski and Mony Jackson.

vesper & lull