breathe in deep, hold on tight, eye to eye, grin to grin, fall on in, please...

we raced past

we raced past in spit sworn silence

night wraiths shadow slipping at speed

.....

tired in-leaning houses of crackled cream

kneeling weary on stubby brick legs

along red dust streets and flat worn cobbles

narrow pale lit lace windows unshuttered

molasses laughter strained through rust ragged door screens

.....

we raced past on brown scabby summer tough toes

beneath dim globes drooping staggered from ancient iron posts

.....

pecan trees and river oaks the tallest things in town

except perhaps (suspenders snap) the baptist bell tower

sultry steaming southern summer nights

where churchyard ghosts might story ridden drift

or crazy t-bone could give chase and shout in brazen tongues

.....

we raced past a-drool at clovey ham or cornbread wafts

baconed greens and vinegar and someone's getting cake

.....

such gardenia smothered breaths of air as pass for breezes

blessed and captured on lemonade cooled lips

in deep murmured rocking chair verandas

we woke miss irys's three legged dog

too old too tired too hot to bark

.....

we raced past in filthy outgrown hand-me-downs

alley terrored of honeysuckle monster's sudden loom

.....

over old stone bridge (general lee once stood here)

on harper's creek--- a scant mud snake bath

catholic ladies' choir almost on key this year

sparking teens replacing wilted grey old men on courthouse benches

random fireflies--- god's picture camera flash on you

.....

we raced past with crusty ears close tuned for dinner calls

don't go where you can't hear me now--- yes, ma'am

.....

down by the darker side of town to stand on edge

jitter sweated, hearing lectures yet un-lect

dare-couraged rebels breaking sacred bounds

'til deacon's back porch bell insists come home

howling hungry herd stampedes back upgrade

.....

we raced past eternal innocent peace filled nights to fetch up here

where only nostalgia and faded home movies remember

loose braided colt child's 1950's august alabama nights

.....

oh, to race the past back again...