Dust and Straw

[good4somethingbum]

Dust and Straw ©2016 Robert George BMI

Well, I woke up with another headache
Dry mouth and an empty whiskey flask
I saw branches lying in the farmyard
But at least the storm was past
So I mixed some Maalox in my coffee
Then I took a walk around the farm
Found a corn cob pipe beside the hog pen
And a floppy hat behind the barn

Crows were swarming on the roof and fence line
As I picked straw from the dust and dirt
Walked out to an old friend on a pine cross
And I stuffed that straw back in his shirt
And he saw me stop and rub my forehead
With his pair of mismatched button eyes
As I gave him back his pipe and big hat
I could hear him whisper somethin’ wise

“though I know that I’m your servant
You and I share many a flaw
We’re both weak and fragile
Cos we’re made of dust and straw”

I thought maybe I was goin’ crazy
Cos I’ve been alone for far too long
My sweetheart used to run this farmyard
I’m a broken man since she passed on
Then my old friend asked about the bottle
That I kept up on the mantel shelf
He said, “although you can help a scarecrow
What makes you think you can help yourself

Even though I’m hangin’ hear I can see
You’re still not coping with your loss
Why won’t you accept the love and power
Of someone who rose up from a cross

though I know that I’m your servant
You and I share many a flaw
We’re both weak and fragile
Cos we’re made of dust and straw”

Well, I finished putting him together
And the crows took to the wind once more
Then I paced the rooms of that old farmhouse
And pulled a King James from a drawer
And the crows around my spirit scattered
As I opened to the book of Mark
That night I walked out near the cornfield
And I heard a whisper in the dark

“though I know that I’m your servant
You and I share many a flaw
We’re both weak and fragile
Cos we’re made of dust and straw

Yeah, we’re both weak and fragile
Cos we’re made of dust and straw
Dust and straw…”