THE SINGING BRAKEMAN'S SONG

FROM THE OPENED BOX
OF CLOSET TIME
A YELLOW STAR
AND LAST YEAR'S WINTER COATS
THE SINGING BRAKEMAN'S SONG
THAT LONESOME FLOWS
FROM COTTON FIELDS
IN MERIDIAN MISSISSIPPI
YODELS BLUE
LIKE GONE DEPRESSION DAYS
IT IS A SONG
THAT HAS NO POCKET MONEY
AND DOESN'T CARE
IT SLIDES ON THE STRINGS
OF A BOTTLENECK GUITAR
BECOMES JOHN GROGAN'S SONS
MY FATHER'S SONG
A SONG YOUR FATHER TOOK
INTO THE COOL SILENCE OF THE MINES
TONIGHT
JIMMY ROGERS SMILES
FROM THE ETERNITY OF PAPER CLOUDS
AND SINGS US HOME AGAIN

(FOR BOBBY
AND HIS TREASURED SCRATCHED RECORD
DEC/12/1981-REH)