From the Ashes

[couchgrouch]

From the AshesMama was an angel, Daddy had his demonsso Mama and his moonshine, had their disagreementsI moved with her the winter, their love went up in smokewe found a shack downriver, 'neath an ancient oakfrom the ashes, from the asheswe cleared some brushy acres, and fenced a simple farmthe riverbank became our porch, our porch became a barnMa said good manure's, found in ev'ry fireplaceand she named our fruitstand, after crops we raisedfrom the ashes, from the ashesGod created menand from the asheslives are born againI used to watch that river, and wish to sail awaybut long as I was needed, I was glad to stayI knew Ma missed my father, and to fight her lonely dreamsshe'd walk the chilly darkness, 'fore dawn rose with flaming wingsfrom the ashes, from the ashesthen one misty sunrise, on that riverbedthe creeping tide of forever, found her lying deadand if there's a Son and Father, and a Holy Ghostwith that river's grey steam, I know Mama rosefrom the ashes, from the ashesGod created menand from the asheslives are born againthough I coulda started drinkin', cos I'm flesh and bonemy flesh woulda been betraying, bones beneath her stoneso I just worked that fruit stand, and watched the river flowtill one stormy summer, lightning struck that oakwell, that tree was smold'ring, when it crushed my shackthen I saw my future, in hammers and an axeblackwings took my harvest, when I sailed off in the nightwith poor Mama's store sign, nailed along the sidefrom the ashes, from the ashesGod created menand from the asheslives are born again(c)2004 Robert George