Mess My Mind Poem by Thomas R. Ruffin

she's known to come skippin' down the road
at odd enough times
with a basket full of happy
clickin' and clackin'
clappin' and slappin'
givin' and gettin'
and sho' messin' my mind
bless her kuntry heart... bless her simple ways
I give her kisses for she loves them so
I really like the way
she's drunk before noon
and naked not long after
sho' messin' my mind
she's known to lose her direction from here to there
but always finds her way back home
usually by Monday
she brings me great gifts of things she made
damn if I were to know what they are
but because these things are of her hand
I will cherish them for life
she's known to jump and shout without warning
at something she thinks be funny
scares the bejesus out of me
makes me some kinda nervous
but that's why I love her
bless her mama and no 'count daddy
for if not fer them
she wouldn't be who she is
and I wouldn't have her 'round
sho' messin' my mind
she's known to scratch me 'cross my back
just 'cause she can
she can be a handful or more
but when I am able to hold her
there's nothin' better in the world
she really messes my mind
she has me all twisted and some kind of crazy
when she's gone I miss her
but when she's home I'm with her
she's known drive an old truck
carryin' a load of pulpwood
and cussin' like she had a reason
she's all the time bein' tough
but she ain't nothin' but a girl
she don't let nobody close
'cept me
I really like the way sings in a whisper
softly
into my ear
and she says things
that sho' mess my mind