just one

the dark wind mixed with large infrequent drops of rain..
this morning in Oxford is a little gift..
a bit of cool dark soft weather before the heat comes..
it is coming
this is the kind of weather that keeps you thinking.
keeps you planning how to spend less time in it.
The chimes outside our bedroom sounded like a Tom Waits song..
bang clang bang,,then beautiful tones made their way out of the chaos..
one masterpiece..
just one.
that would be enough..

wkm
Oxford

Civil War

"There goes Robert E. Lee" --The Band

Some assume we are close to Civil War again..

maybe not..

but it does seem the climate of our fair land is growing more divisive...

but then again,

I only think this when I listen to talk radio..

which is so much cow manure..

but it sure is entertaining.

I miss walking in the Piney Woods without an Ipod..

The south is still battling with rights..

Red Necks, Blue Collar folk still don't want the gov't messin round..

You know what I'm sayin?

I feel a kind peace when I am with friends and family..

when I am writing a song with Jeff,

Maybe we are not close to Civil War again..

we won't need another Robert E. Lee..

or a Lincoln.

wkm

Nashville

we are stories

these days keep coming and going

the sun comes up then goes down

we traffic in relations, goods, dreams, God, songs and lyrics

we tell stories

we are stories

my mechanic in Oxford should be a writer,

he never tells me anything without it becoming a story..

these days keep coming and going,

and story is what we have at the end of it all..

songs, poems, paintings, Paraclete, lovers, children, houses, barns, horses, dogs, cats...

I feel a new wind blowing..

new fires old stories..

Tradition finding its way home..

laughing with Angels..

a hard rain is going to keep on falling over me..

When we walk..

the red clay dirt of Mississippi in my book bag..

carry a little with me wherever I go..

none of us know much other than our own individual soil,

and even it is rich with mystery.

wkm

Nashville

"Squirrel!"

i don't believe in betrayal 

or hate or jealousy or avarice 

or passivity among friends..

I believe in picking up the phone

in sending an email

in response

in loyalty in forgiving in words

in fixing the broken sink

if dogs could talk they would say one word at a time..

"Squirrel!"

"Out!"

"Truck!"

"Go!"

"Eat!"

"Now!"

"Sleep"

"Bellyscratch!"

wkm

Nashvegas

story

these two write us

these two call us

these two teach us

these two sing us

story

wkm

Nashville

dry lightning

The dry lightning
the rumbling thunder in the distance
sitting outside with my son, wife,
his girlfriend Cara, wind is picking up

blow wind blow
it's coming
the rain is inching closer
but it may not fall at all!

Blonde on BLonde
Sanctuary
As I lay Dying
Sound and the Fury!

The weeds blew across the road
purple flowers blue and gold
Can you fall into this scene?

Have you walked the isle?
Have you bowed your head?
Have you confessed your sins?
Can you hear what I said?

Our dogs came inside with us
We let them sleep in our bed
They barked when the storm came howling!!
But can you hear what I said?

Have you walked the isle?
Have you bowed your head?
Have you confessed your sins?
Can you hear what I said?

Taste the bread
Drink the wine
Kneel before you leave
and take not serious your time

Pray for those who do not seek
pray for you yourself cause you are weak

The dry lightning
the rumbling thunder in the distance
sitting outside with my son, wife,
his girlfriend Cara, wind is picking up

blow wind blow
it's coming
the rain is inching closer
but it's ok if it don't


wkm
Oxford

The Cruise

The laughter from the outside lounge drew him..

he saw her standing alone near the railing.

She looked bored, a blank stare out into the dark endless sea..

He walked over while he lit his cigarette..

"Would you like one?'

"No thank you, I have my own."

She looked up into his eyes and smiled..

"How do you like the cruise so far?"

"I hate cruises..it's like being trapped in a bad dream."

She laughed..

"Then why are you here?"

"I was hired to do three shows a night on the upper deck,

a private party musician, failed singer/songwriter from Nashville."

She took out one of her Nat Sherman Naturals,

he lit it when she put it to her lips.

"Why are you in this bad dream?'

She released a fine silver cloud of smoke,

"The company I work for sent four of us, 

a reward for our sales, we were the top four rookies over the past year."

He bowed and congratulated her..

She laughed and returned his bow with one of her own.

wkm

Nashville