Bless Your Heart Poem by Randy McClave

She is a southern lady from Louisiana,
That is a fact that she will tell y’all,
But she is not quiet or even dainty,
Especially while watching her Saints play football.
She likes to make her own life’s rule;
And she will let you know it when you depart;
But, she will never call you stupid or even a fool,
All that she will say with a smile is, 'Bless your heart”.

She enjoys drinking her iced-tea,
And eating real biscuits and gravy and country ham,
Nothing good eating unless its home cooked fixing,
And she greets everyone with a sir or a ma’am.
To her no one is dumb and you are not stupid;
But, if you offend her you are not at all very smart,
From the things that you do or the things you have said,
In disgust she will nod her head and say, “Bless your heart”.

She is a southern lady,
From the top of her head to the tip of her toes,
She is hospitable with everyone that she meets for the first time,
And of course she enjoys to dress up in her new clothes.
But, if you are preoccupied when you meet her;
And if you place the horse in front of the cart;
She will just walk away from you and mumble;
As she will say, ”Bless your heart”.

Her friends and family are all the same,
They all could have fallen from the same acorn tree,
They all believe the same and all think the same,
And with each other they will always argue and disagree.
But, then of course if you are like me who is an outsider;
You will notice you couldn't tell her family or friends apart;
And she or them will never ever call you an idiot;
All that they will say is, “Bless your heart”.

I wasn't born or raised in the south;
I was born and reared in the east,
We were taught not to be disrespectful with our mouth,
And we must always respect our elders and our priest.
But, then comes the time when we are mad and confused;
As though life is written on a stupidity chart,
So, instead of being dumbfounded when I am abused;
I become southern; I just walk away saying, 'Bless your heart”.

Randy L. McClave