Something Down A Dirt Path

Something down a dirt path
Something familiar
Like the stench of fish
Deep fried in the eased summer winds
Smoke curling from burning grease
The laughter of chocolate-brown babies
Running through fields of uncut grass
Blades equipped with lethal chemicals

Grab da itch powda, youse got som’tin’ terrible
Eatin at ya
Lawd chile’, when you gon’ lern’ta stay ways yonda
Way from dem briars
Git in dat house an’ get dat ointmen’

Something down a dirt path
Something familiar
The sun melts our flesh to a smooth cream
The wind spreading it across southern traditions
And picturesque scenes of serene dreams
I can still here it
The laughter
The banter, the chorale of children
Playing tag in the yard
Avoiding bushes of thorns

Youse fall in dem thangs, you gon’ have a crown lak Jesus.
Now get out dem Sunday garments an’ wash yo hans. Dinna bout don’ now.

Something down a dirt path
Something familiar
The kitchen filled with old newspapers
Ancient obituaries
Grocery clippings left unused
And unneeded
Outside the dog barks
The sound of smooth tires rolling over soft gravel
Can be heard about a mile down the road
She goes to the window and peers outside
We wait at the table

Who dat momma?

Nobody, now eat yo food.

Something down a dirt path
Who’d knew ten years later
I’d be back to that spot
That place in time where
Everything is lost
And nothing is useful
Nothing here but
Old memories and old regrets
Although memories fade from me now
Regrets last through eternity
Here and hereafter
Left with a dusty path
With nothing on the end.

Don’t take my baby, Lawd,
Don’t take em way
He ain’t don’ nothin’ to nobody
He be a good boy
He ain’t do dat, no sech lie
Don’t take my boy, Lawd,
Take me
Take me

Something down a dirt path
Something familiar
The smoke cleared
From a silent world
Noise moved with time
And time moved with her
As she fell to the ground
At my feet
At my feet
Now shackled

Take Me

They took us both.