Kentucky Blues

Ron Whitehead

Kentucky Blues

I am a poor wayfaring stranger A wandring thru this vale of woe But there's no sickness, toil, or danger, In That bright land to which I go. I'm going there to see my mother, I'm going there no more to roam; I'm going over Jordan I'm only going over home

from Kentucky he came to east Chicago rail yard to work he was gone and at night after 14 hour days Gideon's Bible and The Cheapest Wine warmed body and soul sacred ceremony in ramshackle bedbugnewspaperwalledbeersign neon hotel within eyeshot of"the yard" not far to lumber on frigid mom

early evening thru the night all night the wind whispers cries wails sings

to her

and thru the cracks of her attic walls she listens she listens listens and when the wind don't blow she turns an ear to the voice coming to her thru the stillness thru the stillness of gnarled cedar and pine blanketing like shrouds the old grayweathered woodslatted farmhouse nestled deep in this coalbarren wilderness and she turns an ear

to the voice coming to her

and thru the stillness she turns and looks at his · thru the stillness of cedar and pine

ray rail man's hat hanging limp from 8penny nail on wormwood wall his hat and railroad manual were all he brought home the last time

but that first Christmas visit from east Chicago and his new job he brought her a blue calico dress and red sweater with pearl buttons

carried on the train with gifts for all

he and they all proud of him a man no longer boy but always hard worker of farm and mine

in this pioneer Kentucky land but now he returns again so soon unexpected returns eternal presence home for good his body from east Chicago railyards he comes his body crushed between coal cars coal and like the bituminous gold shipped from Kentucky to foreign parts he's delivered by train long wailing whistle signals his arrival last stop ofthe L&N

and a year later frail tired tom she drifts thru tears by candlelight she sees she sees his spirit at top of attic stairs at foot of her bed calming real presence he moves closer reaching to her his hand touches her forehead her eyes close finally to deep dream sleep