I’ve never been very good
I never was very good to you
I drank and beat you
but I was your dad
Smith & Wesson
Model 36
my sock drawer
wrapped in a rag
bullets in a preserves jar
and last night
we had a fight
and I walked out the door
and last night
we had a fight
and nothing will ever be alright again
You followed me
You murdered me
and left me lying there
you followed me
you murdered me
and out came blood and water
I walked down to the creek
forgot my winter jacket
past the swing set
Where we slaughtered pigs
the family stones
covered with snow
my father and my grandparents
the rusty trucks against the barn
we knew we’d never fix
--------
when you were a baby
and wouldn’t fall asleep at night
your mama would put you in the passenger seat
of our green Chevy Blazer
and drive up and down Cameron Ridge
Tires kicking up gravel
and the deer would freeze for a second
in the headlights
and then dart out of the way
and the trees cast shadows
and the radio was tuned to WWVA 98.7
playing Ronnie Milsap
and TG Sheppard
and Dottie West
Alabama
Eddie Rabbitt
Johnny Lee
and I was at home
listening to the same songs
at the same time
with a bottle of jack on the table
and all the guns
save one
on the rack downstairs
