I remember long ago
Every year we would go
Northern Mississippi
a piece from Tupelo
Ackers of land
My childhood did know
Children of the daughters
in our grandmothers trust
every summer we spent
from before we could lust
picked peas by the bushell
and loaded hay by the bale
our first taste of work
in the suns regail
Hot we sweated
yet food we were supplied
an abundant table
we were never denighed
I milked the cows
Papa taught us how
Those old ways remembered
but not done now
Never could get the hang
of walking without shoes
one way the country boys
give city boys the blues
Put the jug in the freezer
so it would melt cold in the sun
run and catch the horses
was a way to have fun
When ever they had church
it was church all day
certian of the men
would pray and say
the verse of a song
while others drug
the moan and melody
Night would fall while
we sat on the porch
Wasn't enough television
to really have a choice
Papa never said much
cept mostly on his knees
right beside his bed
Before he'd sleep.
To follow the example
was ment for me
the bible on his lap
even though He couldn't read.