Studio8 - Uniting the Arts

Poem: "Kansas, 1973" by Floyd Skloot from The End of Dreams. © Louisiana State University Press. Reprinted with permission. (buy now)

Kansas, 1973

My daughter nestled in a plastic seat
is nodding beside me as though in full
agreement with the logic of her dream.
I am glad for her sake the road is straight.
But the dark shimmer of a summer road
where hope and disappointment repeat
themselves all across Kansas like a dull
chorus makes the westward journey seem
itself a dream. She breathes in one great
gulp, taking deep the blazing air, and stops
my heart until she sighs the breath away.
The sun is stuck directly overhead.

I thought it would never end. The drive,
the heat, my child beside me, the bright day
itself, that fathering time in my life.
We were going nowhere and never would,
as in a dream, or in the space between
time and memory. I saw nothing but sky
beyond the horizon of still treetops
and nothing changing down the road ahead.

Guitar Shorty wild man he apparently taught jh how to play guitar, he lived next door to him

Thunder on the Mountain and as far as the moon
Ruckus in the alley and the summer'll be here soon
Today's the day I'm gonna grab my trombone and blow
Well It's hot stuff here and its everywhere I go

I was thinking about Alicia Keys... couldn't keep from crying
But she was born in Hell's Kitchen and I was living down the line
I'm wonderin where in the world Alicia Keys could be
I've been lookin for her even clear through Tennessee.

I feel like my soul is beginning to expand
Look into my heart and you will sort of understand
You brought me here now your tryin to run me away
The writing's on the wall, come read it - come see what it say.

(guitar solo)

Thunder on the montain rollin like a drum
Gonna sleep over there that's where the music comin from
I don't need any guide I already know the way
Remember this I'm your servant both night and day.

The pistols are poppin and the power's down
I'd like to try something but I'm so far from town
The sun keeps shining and the North wind keeps pickin up speed
Gonna forget about myself for a while go out and see what others need.

I've been sitting down studing the art of love
I think it will fit me like a glove
I want some real good woman to do just what I say
Everybody got to wonder what's the matter with this cruel world today.

(guitar solo)

Thunder on the Mountain rollin to the ground
Gonna get up in the morning walk the high road down
Some sweet day I'll stand beside my king
I would betray your love or any other thing.

Gonna raise me an army some tough sons of bitches
I'll recruit my army from the orphanages
I've been to St Hermann's church, said my religious vows
I sucked the milk out of a thousand cows.

I got the pork chops she got the pie
She ain't no angel and neither am I
Shame on your greed, shame on your liquid schemes
I'll say this I don't give a damn about your dreams.

(guitar solo)

Thunder on the Mountain heavy as can be
Mean old twister bearing down on me
All the ladies in Washington are scrambling to get out of town
Look like something bad gonna happen better roll your aeroplane down.

Everybody going and I want to go too
Don't want to take a chance with somebody new
I did all I could - I did it right there and then
I've already confessed - no need to confess again.

Gonna make a lot of money gonna go up North
I'll plant and I'll harvest what the Earth brings forth
The hammer's on the table and the pitchfork's on the shelf
For the love of God y'all take pity on yourself.

firsty wrote:scooter, my mac won't not open that not legal download. if you dont have the mp3 files, can you not send them to me?

firsty wrote:scooter, imonna kiss you.