O' How I Hated That Damn Ground

O' How I Hated That Damn Ground I stood there raining my tears utterly broken at fifteen years Thinking of all that dad gave now newly laid in a lonely grave O' how I hated that damn ground screaming but with no sound My family broken up as can be yet none as destroyed as was me Now in lonesome grave he lies severed from all loving ties I cry there standing so alone bright world crashed, he is gone Misery came summer of sixty-nine too young to get drunk on wine I stayed out all that dark night waging my own long futile fight I did my battle with dark spirits coming softly but I could hear it They placed deep hate in my heart punish somebody, myself to start My youth suddenly away had flown my hate forced me to be grown Some body will pay coming years no more sobs, no more hot tears Bark has now so wrapped my tree my hate ate out the best of me Ran alone in this blackened world hate, my blazing banner unfurled Bitter ash came from my burnt stone compassion leeched from every bone Years raced onward into my old age time finally healed my bitter rage Yesterday, talked to father again told him I wash my leaves in rain This tree bears no more bitter fruit clear water finally found gnarly root! Robert J. Lindley, 05-02-2015