Lyrics

Mary’s Garden

Mary lived next door to us, an immigrant from Poland
She fled here just before the war, when the Germans stormed her homeland
She owned the three decker where she lived in her small productive eden
Where tomatoes grow, sunflowers bloomed
She grew them all from seedlings

We were so young, we brothers three, we thought her frail and ancient
We’d raid her garden on some nights, when she cursed we mocked her accent.

A factory across the street, three shifts, and seldom quiet
The drop forge hammer filled the air, our white noised background siren
Three blocks away from Kelley square and on to city Hall
From Saint Anthony’s lot, to Crompton Park,
We knew back roads all.

We learned to dance, drink, love and hate
Longing just to get away
While Mary keep her garden green in the little home she made

Most houses fell into disrepair, except for Mary’s home and garden
Our absentee landlords were happy to sell when the factory came calling
To build more lots for the worker’s cars
Our homes to the wreckers fell
One by one they tumbled down
But Mary wouldn’t sell.

We gathered then at Uncle Tom’s, and raised a toast that old lady
Who made the fat cats wait a while
And whose garden greens our memory.

Mary lived next door to us, an immigrant from Poland
She fled here just before the war, when the Germans stormed her homeland

R.C.
12/07/2024