You Are My Sunshine

There was pride and awe when I looked up at you, and saw you towering above us all.

I knew you as the strong stranger

The one who must be obeyed

In policeman blues, or bleached white tees

With tattoos rippling up and down your arms

Old Spice and nicotine

Sometimes with breath of beer

Strong hands that let me know

Either unyielding fear

Or softness against the battering storm outside the walls

There were lines not to cross over

There was pride and awe when I looked up at you

And saw you towering above us all

I felt so small

Sometimes I felt confused

By the rules you laid down

By the rules you never followed

But that we must respect

And a shining memory beams through the clouds

Quiet, but so big, it stayed with me through all these years

Do you remember the night that you sang, with me in your arms

“You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine?”

And I felt o loved and so special

The day you walked me down the aisle

And gave me to my new life

I thought I heard a sob

Perhaps a longing to do it all over again

And now, as the end grows larger

And we realize we don’t have forever

I call you, to let you know

I love you

I am your sunshine

Your only sunshine

Sharon Hudson 2024