In depth analysis of some great Sports and Canadian poems, with some of the poems coming from the poetry in voice website. More poems to come.
Saturday, 24 December 2016
Monday, 19 December 2016
The Cotton Trail to Canada: An original work
The Cotton Trail to Canada
Poetry By Carter Cotton
Poetry By Carter Cotton
Well, life was sure fine by th’ sugah pines on th’ Adams Farm, you know;
Back when Jeb Crow was but a young-un, roamin’ to an’ fro;
It all changed one day, on th’ fifth of May, back in 1829;
When a trader came up, an’ for him, paid ten dollars, less a dime.
‘Twas a mighty rough ride in th’ midday sun, with no shade, nary a tree;
Even to this day, that ol’ forsaken road is still straight as can be;
Upon passin’ a sign, they crossed th’ ‘Bama state line, into th’ antebellum south;
Young Jeb was so skeered, so unprepared, scarce a sound came from his mouth.
On th’ Butler plantation, th’ workload was hastenin’, ‘twas cotton plantin’ time;
Only thing to hear was th’ ringin’ an’ swingin’ o’ th’ metal wind chimes;
Then all a sudden, th’ silence was broken, by a crack so loud an’ mean;
It sent a deep gash right up Jeb’s back, so bloody, proud, an’ unclean.
********
Pickins were mighty slim, an’ Jeb got really thin in summer months, you know;
When ol’ Massa Butler, in th’ house with white columns, was takin’ it nice and slow;
Th’ cotton fields were hot as heck, at high noon, while the house was mighty cool;
What Jeb wouldn’t do for a sip o’ water, a patch o’ shade, or a dip in the slough.
One sultry night, a-tremblin’ with fright, Jeb wrestled demons as he lay;
Ponderin’ th’ abuse he’d face in th’ scorchin’ cotton fields e’ery day;
Pale as a sheet, on shakin’ feet, young Jeb started for th’ creaky door;
An’ slipped out o’ th’ pitiful shack; ‘twas early on October twenty-four.
Two hours later at roll call, outside th’ crumblin’ shacks;
Jeb was ‘ported absent, Massa Butler blew his stack;
While th’ cottonmouths rose up from the swamps a-hissin’;
Jeb was tryin’ to find a peaceful place, a sanctuary in which to go a-missin’.
********
Now, the Massa’s bloodhounds were a-sniffin’ th’ dixie dust, a-followin’ Jeb’s trail;
When all a sudden, th’ menacin’ clouds opened up, bringin’ down buckets o’ hail;
A blessin’ for Jeb was a cuss for the hounds; the scent a-washed to kingdom come;
For ‘twas reachin’ th’ season when th’ rains come to reason, an’ miss darkness eats th’ sun.
********
Th’ promise land was a-nearin’ now, dixie but a distant memory;
Twenty days had passed; Jeb was all but drained o’ energy;
There lay a lake, so vast and deep, ‘twas o’ Erie fame;
Ne’er had Jeb been so relieved, so proud to hear one name.
On th’ north banks Jeb was free, an’ ready to start his life anew;
Far from th’ strife an’ white supremacy that th’ old south a-spews;
A gruelin’ journey o’ escapin’ th’ south took a lot o’ stamina;
Finally, now Jeb had some rights an’ a new home, in th’ fabled land o’ Canada.
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