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wayne tolbert | + Follow Poet |
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th' dust never really settled

th’ dust never really settled



th’ dust never really settled

on those backroads of virginia

yesterday past



and though times were rough

and winter brought only snow and cold

there was still a warmth

in th’ house heated only by kerosene lamps

and patchwork quilts



swirlin’ dust

can’t be found beneath th’ packed snow

and th’ dust never really settled



chocolate mud first formed crators

then valleys

an’ th’ pourin’ rain brought only wet feet,

soaked heads, runnin’ noses

an’ wishes that a doctor cared

for those who needed

but couldn’t return the favor

with anything more than ‘thank you’



country doctors

never found their way to th’ country



thanksgiving cornbread ushered toyless christmas

th’ new year replaced th’ old

rain melted th’ snow

and thunder yelled, seemingly only at me



but th’ dust never really settled

though thick colorful quilts were removed

and with them th’ memories of numb fingers

pokin’ in bottomless pockets of kneeless trousers



with grumblin’ bellies

children went off to bed

but th’ dust never really settled



th’ difference between a tear and a laugh at bedtime

came more from th’ stomach than from th’ heart

and th’ coolness of th’ night was still

but for th’swirling dust



’cause th’ dust never really settled

on those backroads of virginia

yesterday past

© tolbert

Copyright © wayne tolbert | Year Posted 2025

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