Samantha turned the pages pretty rapidly and only got stuck on a couple of words. She sounded the tricky ones out just fine, and I only had to help a little. As she pulled one book out of her blue knapsack while putting away the other, she looked at me through the corner of her eye, and her mouth bent into a smile.
When she got to the last poem in one of the books, I didn’t think that the poem she read to me would be in a current book. The poem was written just as I remembered it, and Samantha read it perfectly. The only thing that was different about it was that it was called The Rainbow Poem.
Listening to those words brought me back to the days when Dad played albums every Sunday. The Peggy Lee album was one of his favorites. My favorite song on that album was Sing a Rainbow. I bent over the phonograph, my belly feeling the pinch as I stretched. I always counted the grooves and found the spot where I should lower the arm. The needle almost always fell right in place. Peggy Lee’s voice would surround the room as she happily sang the colors of the rainbow. Once the song was over, I placed that needle right back to the beginning again. My parents didn’t seem to mind hearing that song over and over again or listening to me sing along.
That tune stuck in my head over the years. As I rocked each one of my babies, I sang that song to them, over and over again. Even though they are not babies any more, I bet each one of them knows Sing a Rainbow by heart.
I didn’t think to tell Samantha that I knew that poem as she named the colors to me one by one. Maybe I will see her again the next time I volunteer at her school. It’s nice to know this favorite tune is still playing in other places instead of just inside of my head!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TxsHzfpjbHw
My Reality Show 
That was nice. Of course, I had to click the link and listen. I think it’s so nice that you volunteer to work with the kids.
Thanks, Mary. This volunteer opportunity comes through my place of employment which does a lot of community service.
I hope you liked the song! My favorite line is “Listen with your eyes!”
Did you sing the song to her? I had never heard that before. No Peggy Lee at our house growing up. Dad was into Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops!
No singing in public, except maybe a karaoke appearance once!
My Dad listened to a wide variety of music which leaves a lot of room for future blogs, I think! Got to love those old tunes. 🙂
Lovely song, I never heard it but loved the purity and innocence in the tune and words, thanks for sharing it 🙂
I’m glad you like it!
love love love Sing a Rainbow. i can’t believe i’ve never played it for my kids!!!
I’m glad to remind you of the song! Your rainbow girl will love it… Might hear it a lot if you introduce it to them!
my rainbow girl loves it! thank you! i’m so glad i read your post!
Me too!
What a lovely memory. I used to play certain songs over and over again (still do sometimes!) I’ve never heard that song myself, but what a lovely thing to sing to your children.
I still play songs over and over again too!
I remember counting those grooves! And the funny thing is, my teenagers now want record players!