"Going Home to John's Creek"

Dust covers our car,
beige turned gray and Effie
comes out on the porch
with a gun in her hand,

Not a criminal,
just protecting her land.
Company took her sister's
place, over on Singer's Mountian,

held the mineral rights

on some deed,
a hundred years old.
So, Effie don't know it's us,
her own kin a comin home

at two in the morning.

Reedy-Mo hops out
“Mamma, hit's jes me.”
Effie lays that gun down,
Starts to laugh and cry,

“Youins come on in here right now.”

We drink coffee til five
and sing “I'll Fly Away”
Then lay down in the parlor
where the guest bed is

We sleep beside
a Kimper mine,
First time in ten years
and Effie, she smiles,

“G'night, y'all. G'night now.”