Country Sweet Soul Poem by Curtis Johnson

Country Sweet Soul
By Curtis Lee Johnson

Began in a country town right next to a corn mill
Raised in the Mississippi delta near the cotton field

Born in a four room house made of concrete blocks
Grew up on a large plantation next door to a tractor shop
Worked hard in the fields all day, tending the cotton crops Dirt cheap labor, five and a half days a week, unless the rains said stop

Always clothed with plenty to eat, but no AC or central heat
My home town had cars, tractors, and trucks, but no stop lights
A place where everybody knew what was wrong and what was right;
But not perfect, because occasionally, some got drunk and wanted to fight

It was hot under the southern sun, but we had some fun
Dixie summer days felt like ovens, and nights were toasty too
In Winter seasons, mama always gave us medicine to fight off the flu

We always had heat from gas, wood, and coal
Winters were cold, especially as the nights grew old
Daddy worked hard, and mama had the sweetest of souls

When cotton fields turned white, everything was right
We were certainly poor, but nothing we couldn't endure
Mama made all the difference when the days were doubtful.
And we forgot about yesterday, because tomorrow was assured
cj08062015