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image from wikipedia.com

“Raymond “Ray” Robinson (October 29, 1910 – June 11, 1985) became a local myth in the Pittsburgh area, and his real story was obscured by urban legend. In the stories, he is the "Green Man", and as a boy, he climbed an electric pole to see into a bird's nest, and was shocked. He fell to the ground, and lost his eyes, nose, mouth, one ear, and one arm. The story states that when he grew older, he hid in an abandoned house. The famed nickname of "Green Man" came from his skin, which was purported to be green because of the electrical shock he suffered in the stories. Through several generations, Robinson's story has been passed on so many times that his name and his real history have been overshadowed by the ghost story that grew out of them.”

(Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Robinson_(Green_Man)

BALLAD OF GENTLE RAY

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Verse 1)  
Wires hummed, skies turned black,  
a boy misstepped—no turning back.  
though changed forever was he,  
his heart was warm as summer's sea.  

(Refrain)  
Oh, walk slow, Ray, forget the stares,  
Kindness shines through scars you bear.  
Folks all know you by your name,  
God still sees you just the same.

(Verse 2)  
Ray walked the streets, dusk till dawn,  
A green-ghost some feared—but not his mom.  
"My Ray, don't hide your light,"  
He grinned wide, though shy from sight.  

(Refrain)  
Oh, walk slow, Ray, forget the stares,  
Kindness shines through scars you bear.  
Folks all know you by your name,  
God still sees you just the same.  

(Verse 3)  
The world is cruel, the world is blind,  
But Ray left footprints soft and kind.  
When dawn cracks gold on railroad tracks,  
Ray fades like steam, never looks back. 

(Refrain, softer)  
Oh, walk slow, Ray...

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