The Real Deal
By: Tom Wright
10/2/98
Yes, I'm genuine,
this I can honestly say.
I'm the same man this morning,
as I was yesterday.
I'll be the same man tomorrow,
should it come for me.
I'm but a wandering spirit"
desiring to be free.
Most drive by and stare,
otherwise paying me no mind.
While the truly curious stop,
sensing, that I'm one of a kind.
With the looks of a Mule Skinner
or Mountain Man they feel.
Most just need reassuring
that I'm sane and for real.
Of the many that visit
a few become good friends.
Our trails to cross later
before life's journey ends.
In daring to be different
I've caused some, grief and pain.
But causing discomfort
was certainly not my aim.
I've but this one thought
for you as I leave.
Are you doing those things
in which you believe?
Existing within each person
is hidden some small part.
That desires to be different
But most won't follow their heart.
Categories:
mule skinner, heart, life, pain,
Form: Rhyme
A Mule Skinner’s Prayer
By: Tom Wright
1/15/99
Lord,
May you bless both me
and my string this day.
May our trails be wide,
our oat bin full,
and grass along the way.
May there be streams a-plenty,
and your gentle breeze
be always at my back.
Then when at last,
around my fire I sit,
and day is through.
I'll give thee thanks,
for I'll be found
at peace with you.
For my Mule Skinner friend “Wagon John”
Categories:
mule skinner, friend, prayer,
Form: Free verse
"Toe Valley Tom will be right back!"
Cued the Mule Skinner Blues, as I finally took a break from my Bluegrass Show on WTOE, the radio station you could hear across the street--if you were lucky!
Its a very long story how I took a job as a DJ at a country station. Though, I will mercifully shorten this episode in my life!
drive through boulders
onto the slippery main road
spin out to station
I was recently married and had taken on the editorship of a small weekly newspaper. Well, it folded after a few months and desperate for a job, any work that I could find in the tiny mountain village near the Estatoe River to support wife and myself! (the county and namesake river were shortened to "Toe"--hence the name given to me)
WTOE hired me as a morning DJ and reporter after a short audition--also I was the only announcer who could read the news and be understood.
You would probably be shocked to learn how I detested country music! Sheer torture for yours personally who only liked classical and a little jazz! But, I could tolerate bluegrass, which was the only saving grace!
mournful music
caught myself singing along
immediately quit
Categories:
mule skinner, adventure, december, humor, jobs,
Form: Haibun
I wonder what’s on that untraveled path
It looks detached from the human race
That mud-spattered trail has no footsteps
I wonder if it was ever taken by anyone
A shepherd and his sheep, a mule skinner perhaps
The shrubbery on this way are yearning for human touch
I stand at a distance to see where it takes
I stand to see this barren region and one dying lake
It leads to the mountain of fairies, people say
Then why we don’t ever go this way
It is cursed and so are the mountains, they say
I wonder what is more blessed and motherly than the mountains
I wonder who will first traverse this trail, and take away its pain
I wonder who will first leave a trace of footsteps on this secluded course
I've seen countless paths forsaken; countless forlorn roads
Categories:
mule skinner, beautiful, heaven, mountains, nature,
Form: Free verse
My old forty fives lie dormant in my attic
There were so many one hit wonders in our time
I lived my youth listening to music
As Troy Shondell moaned “This Time”
When Robin Luke sang “Susie Darlin’”
The Bobettes had “Mr. Lee”
“Shout, Shout, Knock Yourself Out”
Lolita’s “Sailor, Your Home is the Sea”
Claudine Clark wailed “Party Lights”
Ral Donner crooned “Please Don’t Go”
The Exciters said “Tell Him”
Travis and Bob said “Tell Him No”
“Mission Bell” by Donnie Brooks
“One Tin Soldier”, Coven said it all
Russ Hamilton sang “Rainbow”
“Baby, The Rain Must Fall”
“Sorry, I Ran All The Way Home”
The Rocky Fellers Sang “Killer Joe”
Corsairs crooned “Smoky Places”
Bob Moore sang about “Mexico”
There must be 10, 000 one hit wonders
Don’t know which ones to choose
Still love “Let’s think About Livin’”
And the Fendermen’s “Mule Skinner Blues”
I remembered watching the Hit Parade
“Cindy Oh Cindy” and “Marianne”
“To Know Him Is To Love Him”
"Like a Tiger" by Fabian.
Categories:
mule skinner, music, nostalgialove,
Form: Rhyme