A Notable Death of 1949

As yet the sky
had not caved in
our old fig tree
gave us fat fruit
and we were happy

until we turned on
the radio at noon
and heard
"Leadbelly is dead
from Lou Gehrig's disease"

Then we fell apart
became basket cases
Rory took the news
even harder than I
at least outwardly

He walked through the house
singing snatches of
Let the Midnight Special
Shine Her Light on Me

His voice cracked
and he broke down
when he tried
Take This Hammer

I needed to be alone
and went out on the porch
all I wanted to sing was
Goodnight Irene

but it was broad daylight
on North F Street
a Pepsi truck rumbled past
and Mama's petunias were stirring
in the breeze

Notes

McDaniel, Wilma. (2001) Borrowed Coats. Hanging Loose Press, Brooklyn, New York.
Courtesy University of California, Merced Library. Copyright owned by the Regents of the University of California.