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Best Poems Written by Graham Pinkley

Below are the all-time best Graham Pinkley poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Graham Pinkley Poem

A Lifetime

A rotted old house deep in the South
Was where I learned to shut my mouth
And keep my stockings high and my hems low
And take care of babies and learn to sew

And the very first thing I stitched together
Was made of cotton that had heathered
Was a pair of pants like my Papa wore
“For wearin’ ‘round the house!” my Mama swore

When I was ten I was grown enough
To wear layered dresses and shoulder puffs
To gussy up when I went out for a walk
And to court a man with dainty talk

I got old enough to leave the nest
And my Papa found one out in the west
A farmer’s boy with corn agrow
And I didn’t care enough to say no

Six babies to him I gives
Ain’t none of which who lives
I didn’t much care for them anyways
But now he works much longer days

But when he’d come home and go to bed
I’d creep around the dark farmstead
And saddle up his horse to ride
I felt like such a man astride

He done worked himself to death
On that horse he drew his last breath
The preacher offered three hundred
And my horse and I were sundered

Now as I sit, old and gray
I think about the final day
And maybe the Lord will let me be
Out of these bones and finally free.

Details | Graham Pinkley Poem

Henry and Harry

Henry and Harry were fine old boys
Float the Mississippi on my convoy
They worked real hard, but then I found
Henry’s chased Harry round and round

Henry was caught by the devil’s claws
So we tied him up in a high tuckahaw
He plead that he never meant to do what he did
But then my cow came up and kissed him

Henry wanted Harry to help him in his room
Harry said I would love to see you soon
I came in to see why they were late
Saw that Harry was Henry’s first mate

Henry was caught by the devil’s claws
So we tied him up a high tuckahaw
He plead that he never meant to do what he did
But then my cow came up and kissed him

Harry said to Henry as he hung by his feet
“I miss you now, and again we’ll meet”
The boat went on with a mighty jerk
And Harry fell off into the murk

Henry was caught by the devil’s claws
So we tied him up a high tuckahaw
He plead that he never meant to do what he did
Then my cow came up and kissed him

Details | Graham Pinkley Poem

Pansies

I still remember clear as day
My Mama’s purple pansies sittin’ on the porch
I was just a little boy
And I thought those purple pansies were as pretty as anything I’d ever seen.

I still remember clear as day
The boys at church and school yellin’ that at the back of my head
I never understood it
Why a pretty little flower was supposed to make me feel bad

I still remember clear as day
When Mama said for me to never come back
I left those purple pansies
Back on the sunny front porch in Missouri

I still think about it every day
What’s become of those little purple pansies
But I know what’s become of this one
He still stands tall, and he still blooms

Details | Graham Pinkley Poem

Almost Prayer

Dear God,

I know I don’t believe in you.
I know I take a lot more than I give.
I know I’m not a perfect woman.
Or even a woman, at that.

But please God, give me
A man to eat breakfast with
Or
A woman to cuddle at night
Or 
A man to leave dishes in the sink
Or
A woman to leave the keys in the door.

I know I don’t deserve it.
I know they won’t be perfect.
I know my prince charming will never come riding in on a white horse.
But please, Lord, give me someone.