Just like a nursery rhyme
NS July 9th, 2008
TNC is an excitable, busy child, a typical toddler. She runs, jumps, climbs, clambers, explores, pokes, pours, and all of the other typical two-year-old behaviours. She still gives me hugs and kisses when I ask but they are becoming more fleeting, a quick peck and a pat on the back before she’s off again. So yesterday when she curled up on the sofa, stuck her thumb in her mouth, patted the space next to her and said “Lay down Mummy,” I stopped the cleaning I was doing and immediately obliged. I kept waiting for her to tickle me or jump up, teasing me with her feigned stillness. But we laid there for a few silent minutes, looking into each other’s eyes, and I began smoothing the hair back from her face very gently. She closed her eyes and said “Sing, Mummy.”
Now, normally I can belt out a dozen nursery rhymes and kids’ songs at the drop of a hat or think of my own appropriate tune but for some reason, my mind went blank. I wasn’t sure what kind of song the moment called for. Not Row Row Row Your Boat or the raucous Five Little Monkeys, surely. But what, then? At that moment I realised the radio was on in the kitchen and I listened to hear what was on, hoping for inspiration.
It was Madonna’s Like a Prayer.
Without even thinking about it, I began softly singing along, turning the foot-stomping, gospel-singing indignation of a song about the complexity of religion, discrimination and race into a gentle lullaby meant to sooth my beloved girl.
I hear your voice, its like an angel sighing
I have no choice, I hear your voice
Feels like flying
I close my eyes, oh God I think I’m falling
Out of the sky, I close my eyes
Heaven help meLike a child you whisper softly to me
You’re in control just like a child
Now I’m dancing
It’s like a dream, no end and no beginning
You’re here with me, it’s like a dream
Let the choir sing
Who knew that a controversial pop song from the 80s could have such meaning or would be the backdrop to a moment I will remember for a very long time? Thank you, Madonna. And thank you, TNC, for letting me hold you in my arms for five minutes on a Tuesday afternoon, cherishing the stillness and nearness of you.
