Mabel Jazz Soul
Your Side of the Sun
Remembering Mabel, from her owner
Remembering Mabel
Mabel claimed the sunny chair and made herself part of every working day. Three moves later, she still knew how to interrupt a deadline and persuade her owner to put a book away. A warm jazz-soul remembrance of late nights, familiar routines and a much-missed cat.
An original example with an imagined story.
The first place had a tiny kitchen And a window facing west I bought a chair for reading You decided it was best I'd come home, put the kettle on And ask you how you'd been You'd open one eye, Mabel Then go back to sleep again
That was your side of the sun That was your place in the room I'd wait till you got up Before I'd dare to move All the small negotiations I was happy letting you win I never thought I'd miss so much Being told to move again
Three moves and one bad boyfriend You outlasted him by years You slept through every argument But woke when I had tears When I worked beyond midnight You'd press your head against my wrist I'd save what I'd been writing There were better things than this
That was your side of the sun That was your place in the room I'd wait till you got up Before I'd dare to move All the small negotiations I was happy letting you win I never thought I'd miss so much Being told to move again
The afternoon still crosses From the table to the chair Nothing in the room has changed Except you're not in there I found a picture on my phone All whiskers, out of frame I tried to take it properly You'd got up and walked away
That was your side of the sun And I knew where you would be Every ordinary day You were keeping time with me All the small negotiations All the years of giving in Mabel, I'd put my book away To have you interrupt again
The chair is by the window It still catches all the sun