|
Sail Away
by Tony WhitakerI smell the sullen sweetness of the cotton blossom
But heaven help their souls, if those bolls got rotten
So they worked in the fields until backs, or spirits, broken
And if they complained about a day in the life
They simply sailed away on a noose or a knife
I see Martin still standing on those stone gray steps
But his sunbeam Dream shined through broken glass
Brilliant words of deliverance, now tell me true
Do you tremble when you hear his, Free at last?I do.
But then he sailed away on a bullet's blast
I see them falling for freedom on those foreign shores
Red stains painted on the killing floor
But for those making it back no flags were flying
And many sailed away on drugs, or a bullet, in their time of trying
Well, I hear heaven holds a secret chord
That King David knew, and played, to please the Lord
Now comes a time weve chosen one of their sons
Will Obama get the chance to make us one?
Let's all pray there be no assassin's gun
And we all sail away as it comes undone
11/15/2008 Author's Note: Sometimes I wish I were back home in the land of cotton and the wonders of my South, and youth, are not forgotten. But I also hope we "look away, look away" from a time when my fathers ran the South - with an iron hand - in Dixieland .
Posted on 11/15/2008
Copyright © 2024 Tony Whitaker
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by George Hoerner on 11/15/08 at 02:26 PM Reallly good write Tony. We need another great step forward as JFK tried to take. No one that I know is perfect but hopefully we can move in the right direction for a while. Maybe 2 steps forward and only 1 step back. |
| Posted by Gregory O'Neill on 11/15/08 at 07:27 PM From an old John Stewart, he sang (about JFK/MLK/RFK, etc)..."shoot all the brave horses and who will you ride?".....you are spot on here Tony....terrific perspective. Thanks. High marks! |
| Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 11/16/08 at 06:12 AM I was thinking that as well, about this being put to tune. It tells a hell of a story. |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 11/20/08 at 12:09 AM Yes, a song and some. Fine sentiments, Tony. |
| Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 11/20/08 at 02:05 AM Obviously a feel for the old South but a hope for the New. There are Great Expectations for the president elect--some he fostered and others projected on him in his message of Change. Only time will tell but the news media are already building a mythology concerning him and he hasn't taken office as yet!! Not a good omen! |
|
