L Milton Hankins Poet Terzanelle

Our Front Porch Hillbilly Band

Billy played the banjo, sometimes the fiddle, too
While grandpa rattled the spoons and sang
About a sip of “that good ol’ mountain dew.”

Occasionally Mr. Snell came over and brang *
His collection of gourds, they made a harmony
While grandpa rattled the spoons and sang.

The makeshift band welcomed, as a courtesy,
Anyone who had a crude mountain instrument
His collection of gourds, they made a harmony.

Mama clog danced with an Irish jig movement
She, also a talented musician, did purely enjoy
Anyone who had a crude mountain instrument.

I usually sat on the front porch steps with a toy
While our neighbor hillbilly band played a tune
They tried, as best they could, never to annoy.

It was a splendid way for old friends to commune
Billy played the banjo, sometimes the fiddle, too,
While our neighbor hillbilly band played a tune
About a sip of “that good ol’ mountain dew.”


written July 10, 2021
[*brang. Every hillbilly kid knows that the
tenses of "to bring" are "bring, brang, brung."]

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Tom Cunningham July 10, 2021 at 7:39 AM Enjoyable verse Milton, I had images of deliverance in my head. Hope your weekend is going well. Tom L Milton Hankins July 10, 2021 at 9:47 AM Thanks, Tom. Actually, I had the same images while writing it. We West Virginians refer to ourselves as "Mountaineers," but there are certainly lots of "hillbillies" in the mountains.

Terry Miller July 10, 2021 at 1:26 AM Fun, fun, fun; a great write. L Milton Hankins July 10, 2021 at 9:47 AM Thanks, Terry. It was a fun write.

Unseeking Seeker July 9, 2021 at 9:28 PM Delightful read, Milton! Fun neighbourhood L Milton Hankins July 10, 2021 at 9:48 AM I can remember some times like this many, many years ago when I was a child. Unfortunately, those days are pretty much gone now, except, perhaps, in some of the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee. Thanks for your read.