The Ballad of Mama Queen and Her Darling Daughta
Today is my birthday and I feel the best way to celebrate is to share the story of my birth. I posted this poem in August and received some comments that it was a sad story. In a way it could be seen that way, as at the time it happened my mother she was sad. But, Mama always had a back-up plan. She left Reno and went to Las Vegas to join her high school sweetheart who was stationed at Nellis Air For Base. So it is that I became an only child with seven brothers and sisters.
I wrote this poem when I was working as a secretary for the Linguistics Department at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. As I looked through a dictionary of slang, written by one of the professors, I came across very interesting expressions for the actions involved in conception and a child born out of wedlock. By that time, the three sisters I grew up finally knew I had a different father from theirs. And I had lived with my dad and met my three brothers and one sister who had not known about me. I feel blessed to have all of them in my life and it wouldn’t have happened any other way.
So, I hope you will now enjoy watching me perform this ballad with the sense of joyous humor in which I wrote it.
Skywalker Storyteller Works 
I was glad to see a video but listened with my eyes closed. Go figure.
Happy birthday, young lady. I hope you have a great big party with all those brothers and sisters in attendance.
Thanks. Guess next time I make a video, I’ll just use a photo and save all the time with make up. (:
Well, I might have peeked time or two…
A very cool way to celebrate your birth. It doesn’t seem sad to me. Not at all. The word that comes to mind is “cute”. The humor, the attitude, no shame–very charming. I think you’re one of the healthiest people I know. But hey! Happy Birthday!
Thanks Gary. Did you get the e-mail about the book?
Congratulation to you, feminineocean!
Thank you.
I apologize for being late. And before anything I wish you many, many more fruitful years ahead. I watched your video and must admit that I appreciate your sincerity and words surrounding your birth. I can say it all made you stronger. I hope you and your brothers and sisters had a great time 🙂
Thanks Uzoma.
Happy Birthday!! 🙂
Thank you.
Happy B’day and I LOVED your story!!
I enjoyed your performance. Happy b-lated b-day.
Thank you. I look forward to reading more of your blogs.
Thanks for joining me. I’m so delighted to have a performer who knows how to tell a story in the best African American tradition.
Thanks. Your compliment encourages me to plan some more.
Wonderful!!!
I’m a late comer but a very Happy Birthday. What a lovely magnificent-story-telling-poet-singer you are. I enjoyed the video. 🙂 Paulette
Thanks for your kind words. I’m glad you like the video.