Forgiving Nature

[couchgrouch]

Forgiving NatureMama picked up the empties, I left by the riverbedif I was sneakin' Daddy's bottles, I shoulda tossed 'em in the shedshe seemed madder that I littered, where crystal water flowedbut her anger never lasted, bless her heart...she always showeda forgiving naturethat was mostly steady and truea caring mother who rarely raised a handtill it was more than dueof all things a parent needswisdom and a gentle touchsometimes nothing means as muchas a forgiving natureI stopped drinkin' Daddy's liquor, when I saw how it changed himMama'd pray down by the river, when he hurt her againhe'd wake up feeling shameful, and swear off that wicked stuffbut come sundown he'd be boozin', and taking advantage ofher forgiving naturethat was mostly steady and truea caring parent who rarely raised a handtill it was more than dueof all things a parent needswisdom and a gentle touchsometimes nothing means as muchas a forgiving naturethen one night in late July, thunder cracked the summer skyrain came down like the wrath of the LordMa took me up on the barn, as the river swamped our farmand lightning stabbed the night like heaven's swordswell, all they found of Daddy's, was a muddy jug of ginit was months till Mama, prayed by that river againthen that flood began to look like, part of some unseen planand when her bruises were all healed, nothing was easier thanforgiving naturethat was mostly steady and truea caring parent who rarely raised a handtill it was more than dueyes, he was a wicked manso nothing was easier thanforgiving natureforgiving nature...(c)2006 Robert George