the way out

[saw]

( written Nov. 4th, 2007)

we walked in the tall corn
flapping waves of grain
like those tv images when channel 5
went off the air when I was kid

and I would have been lost
if it weren't for granddaddy's knowing footprints
to place my tiny boots inside,
he told me stories hour upon hour

sang, Mississippi John Hurt songs
as we slipped in and out of the stalks
Blue Harvest Blues, Oh Mary Don't You Weep,
Cow Hooking Blues, and he talked like he sang
a blue streak, his soft raspy voice flew over the fields

like black magpies in July,
I told him i was scared 'cause I couldn't see
where I was going, so he picked me up
by my overall strap, cradled me in his burnt farmer arms

but kept on awalkin', whisperin' to me
"when fear gets to playin' with your mind boy
just remember that fear in nuthin' but a dream,
that love is the real thing

and love'll make a mountain cat turn tail
run back inside his grotto, Hell son
a bad man would sooner wrassle a pack of coyotes
than mess with a man with love in his heart

you'll be alright boy, keep the truth
on your tongue, and a song
in your heart
and you will always find your way."

[Doreen Peri]

but kept on awalkin', whisperin' to me
"when fear gets to playin' with your mind boy
just remember that fear in nuthin' but a dream,
that love is the real thing

and love'll make a mountain cat turn tail
run back inside his grotto, Hell son
a bad man would sooner wrassle a pack of coyotes
than mess with a man with love in his heart

you'll be alright boy, keep the truth
on your tongue, and a song
in your heart
and you will always find your way."

Love the dialect and storytelling in this piece. Good writing, Steve.

[saw]

thanx a lot Doreen, always appreciate your feedback...