PLAGUEBOUND

PLAGUEBOUND (A song in three acrostic verses and chorus for the New Normal - in response to a prompt to write a PANDEMIC piece ...) (c) 2020 – G. Smith (BMI) =======iv======= Plaguebound, inside the house, Alone with just my son and spouse, No fear, but just a bit concerned, Doomsurfing all the things I've learned. Every little cough of sneeze, Minor ache or pain or wheeze, Indicates the end is near; Corona used to just be beer.

Plaguebound, working from home, All on-line or the telephone. New normal? What a silly phrase, Distancing's now social, these days. Essential has new meaning, too, Marking everything I do. Indeed, what I took for granted seems, Changed to memories or dreams

Mask up, All the time. Shouldn't we drop what we can to be kind? Keep your distance, Except with your heart; Don't you think it's a good place to start?

Plaguebound, with shadows of doubting, Afraid to speak up to what others are shouting. Novel-corona? It's really much more; Do you offer your hand when you open your door? Engaging each other, sharing your gifts; Making sure that we use them to help mend the rifts. I don't know if this message will give pause to hate; Christ is our answer - it's never too late.

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EASY

This came to me while walking the rescue through the new subdivision behind the old homestead, where I’ve noticed more folks on their steps and stoops or doing yard things in the past three months of sequestering than I realized actually lived back there... I s’pose looking at the same 24 hour walls and COVID killing sunshine have been the reason, along with my gift of gab...

EASY (c) 2020 G. Smith (BMI) ======>|<====== Lenny drives a truck, for Old Dominion Freight Line, Delivering in town, five days a week. He moved into a new house with his bride here last October, Just up the road and down the hill, And then across the creek.

Caleb plays guitar at church on Sunday mornings, Teaches senior English at the high school back in town; He and his wife Margaret are in a house up on the hillside, Off a gravel side-road, with tall trees all around.

And they’re easy folks to get along with, Not too hard to get to know; Smile and wave each time you pass ‘em, As they’re driving down the road. Easy folks to get along with; Not too hard to get to know; Strangers once, but now no longer; And it all started with, “Hello.”

Andrea’s a nurse at the hospital in Gainesville, Working nights and weekends, in the ICU, She moved in with her mom and dad to help her raise her children; And keep an eye on them the way that families used to do.

And they’re easy folks to get along with, Not too hard to get to know; Smile and wave each time you pass ‘em, As they’re driving down the road. Easy folks to get along with; Not too hard to get to know; Strangers once, but now no longer; And it all started with, “Hello.”

Strangers once, but now no longer, And it all started with, “Hello.”

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FARM BOY

4/26/20's APRIL P.A.D. Prompt was CHANGE - this came while mini-binge-watching the Spielberg/Hanks docudrama series, THE PACIFIC... ====XXVI==== FARM BOY (c) 2020 G. Smith (BMI) ---------------------------------- July in the jungle, Christmas as well; Peace on earth, good will to men, With scattered scenes from hell.

Some friends barely made it home, Some friends clearly didn’t Some you couldn’t tell because, They kept wounds well hidden.

He left home a farm boy, Shipped out a Marine, Came home as a stranger, From everything he’d seen. Most days he can hide it, But once the sun goes down, He disappears inside himself, As the demons come around.

He never talked about it, “They murdered sleep,” is all he said, Half a smile would cross his lips, But his eyes were fully dead.

He left home a farm boy, Shipped out a Marine, Came home as a stranger, From everything he’d seen. Most days he can hide it, But once the sun goes down, He disappears inside himself, As the demons come around.

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SHOULD-A WOULD-A COULD-A

The 4/24/20 – APRIL P.A.D. Prompt: NATURE ====xxiv==== SHOULD-A WOULD-A COULD-A (c) 2020 G. Smith (BMI) ---------------------------------- I could’ve stayed a mailman, delivering your bills, Or letters from your dear Aunt Sadie, sharing all her ills. I could’ve been a soldier, an airman, Or Marine, (I’m glad I was a sailor, though, ‘cause I don’t care much for green).

I could’ve stayed a farmhand, mucking out the stalls, I could’ve been a preacher if I’d listened for the call. I could’ve stayed a baggage handler, loading big jet planes, Working under blazing suns, and through cold and pouring rains.

But it ain’t my nature, It ain’t my way; I work at something a little while, And then I’ll say, “Good day.” I get focused, But not for long; Unless I find I’m working on a song, Or two, Unless I find I’m working on a song.

I could’ve stayed in Florida, or maybe Tennessee; I should’ve gone to college, and gotten a degree, I could’ve stayed with Kimberly, I should’ve stayed with Claire; I should-a, would-a, could-a done, more things if I’d dared.

But it ain’t my nature, It ain’t my way; I work at something a little while, And then I’ll say, “Good day.” I get focused, But not for long; Unless I find I’m working on a song, Or two, Unless I find I’m working on a song.

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ONE RIVER

4/21/20's Poetic Asides APRIL 2-fer-Tuesday P.A.D. Prompt: LOVE | ANTI-LOVE (my LEAST favorite prompting - included every time during the Poem-A-Day Challenge - I mean, what IS anti-love anyway?)

Whatever... here's my LOVE song... ====xxi==== ONE RIVER (c) 2020 G. Smith (BMI) ---------------------------------- She likes Bon Jovi, Prince, and the Clash; I like Waylon and Willie, George Jones and Johnny Cash. She’s up from the city, I’m from down on the farm, She’s smart and she’s pretty with grace and with charm. What she sees in me is anyone’s guess; But when I stumble or bumble, she brings out my best.

Two sides to the one coin; Two banks to one river, That flows who knows where, But we’re going together.

She likes college football, I like it, too; Her team’s red and black, my team’s gold and blue. She likes the mountains, I like the coast, But wherever she goes is where I like the most. She likes country fried chicken, I like ribs by the rack; She likes cream in her coffee, I take mine black.

Two sides to the one coin; Two banks to one river, That flows who knows where, But we’re going together.

She likes skinny jeans, I like her in skirts, She likes button downs, I prefer denim shirts She’d rather stay home on a Saturday night, I enjoy going out where the neon is bright; What she sees in me is anyone’s guess, And when I stumble or bumble, she brings out my best.

Two sides to the one coin; Two banks to one river, That flows who knows where, But we’re going together. Don’t know where we’re going, But we’ll get there together.

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LOUD AND CLEAR

The 4/18/20 Poetic Asides APRIL P.A.D. Prompt: MESSAGE ====xviii==== LOUD AND CLEAR (A Bluegrass Song) (c) 2020 G. Smith (BMI) --------------------------------- I hear you loud and clear, Dear, I hear you loud and clear; You may be talking to yourself, But I hear you loud and clear.

You’re not saying much tonight, But I know what you mean, Sitting on the sofa there, Staring at your screen.

And I hear you loud and clear, Dear, I hear you loud and clear; You may be talking to yourself, But I hear you loud and clear.

I’ll start a conversation, But you will not reply; You won’t even lift your head, To look me in the eye.

And I hear you loud and clear, Dear, I hear you loud and clear; You may be talking to yourself, But I hear you loud and clear.

I come in from a day at work, You’re cooking on the phone; Then stir the pot and go out front, Leaving me alone.

I hear you loud and clear, Dear, I hear you loud and clear; You may be talking to yourself, But I hear you loud and clear.

We’ve been together so long, I can almost read your mind; I know better than to try, For fear of what I’d find.

I hear you loud and clear, Dear, I hear you loud and clear; You may be talking to yourself, But I hear you loud and clear.

And when it’s time to go to bed, You might tell me, “Good night,” Or just go into the other room, And just turn out the light.

I hear you loud and clear, Dear, I hear you loud and clear; You may be talking to yourself, But I hear you loud and clear.

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ANIMAL CONTROL

To the 4/11/20 April P.A.D. prompt: CONTROL ====xi==== ANIMAL CONTROL (c) 2020 G. Smith (BMI) ---------------------------------- We got a rescue down in Waco, Named after Johnny Cash, It’s a lot of fun, watching him running, We should’ve called that rascal the Flash. But it wouldn’t matter either way, He doesn’t answer to his name. He won’t sit, he won’t stay, whatever you say, To him it’s just one big game.

And you won’t own a dog, As much as he’ll own you; He may be your buddy, but he’s only gonna, Do what he wants to do. Man’s best friend they call him; And in many ways that’s true; But you won’t ever own a dog, As much as he’ll own you.

He meets me in the driveway, With a stick or maybe a ball, He’ll chase ‘em down and bring ‘em back, He’s a good boy, all in all. But he’ll bark at night at nothing, He’ll want in, and then again out; “Who’s the master?” gets answered then, Leaving no shadow of doubt.

And you don’t own a dog, As much as he owns you. He may be your buddy, but he’s only gonna, Do what he wants to do. Man’s best friend they call him, And in many ways that’s true; But you won’t ever own a dog, As much as he owns you. No, you won’t ever own a dog, As much as he’ll own you.

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THE ONE WHO TRIES MY PATIENCE

In response to 4/10/20's Poetic Asides April P.A.D. prompt to fill in the blanks for: THE ____ WHO ____ ====X==== THE ONE WHO TRIES MY PATIENCE (c) 2020 - G. Smith (BMI) ----------------------------------- There’s one who tries my patience, Who really pulls my sting; Who gets on my last nerve about Every little thing.

There’s one who knows my secrets, Who always knows the score; Who tells me what I shouldn’t do, When I want to do some more.

There’s one who tries my patience, Who has to know it all; Who’s always right and lets me know, When I’ve dropped the ball.

There’s one who should know better, But who does it anyway, Who doesn’t want to listen ‘cause, He’s got something to say.

Frustrations, aggravations, Every time I turn around; Blood pressure going up; Tolerance going down. Slowly but surely I’m coming, To the bitter end of my rope; Count to ten once again, I’m about to give up hope.

There’s one who tries my patience, Who always yanks my chain; Who doesn’t stop to realize, He causes so much pain.

There’s one who tries my patience, One with O.C.D.; And that one who tries my patience, Is me.

Yeah, that one who tries my patience, Is me.

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TWINKLE, TWINKLE

From the 4/4/20 Poetic Asides April P.A.D. prompt: WISH ( with apologies to Merle Haggard)... ====iv==== TWINKLE, TWINKLE (c) 2020 G. Smith (BMI) ---------------- Twinkle, twinkle, little star, Sometimes I wonder where you really are; Shining down on me from somewhere far. Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Twinkle , twinkle clear and bright. Through it all, you’re like a guiding light; I gaze your way now almost every night, Twinkle, twinkle clear and bright.

Some folks say that I should wish on you, I’m not so sure what good that would do, Hanging up there in the evening blue, I feel you’re missing her, too.

Twinkle, twinkle through ‘til dawn, Then I feel like I can carry on, The sun comes up and the pain is gone, Twinkle, twinkle through ‘til dawn.

Twinkle, twinkle friendly star; Twinkle always, friendly star.

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FOLLOW ME

Continuing to catch up... this is from the 4/3/20 April P.A.D. prompt at Poetic Asides: FOLLOW ______ ====iii==== FOLLOW ME (c) 2020 G. Smith (BMI) ----------- Follow Me, Just two words, Follow Me; By the Sea, Of Galilee, Two small words, Follow Me.

He met His disciples where they were. Mending nets or in a tree, And called them each by name with, “Follow Me.”

Follow Me, Just two words, Follow Me; By the Sea, Of Galilee, Two small words, Follow Me.

He met the woman at the well, As she was drawing water, And told her all about herself, Though she was Jacob’s daughter.

Follow Me, Just two words, Follow Me; By the Sea, Of Galilee, Two small words, Follow Me.

I know I’ve stumbled on my way, But when I turned around, I didn’t have to look at all, To see that I’d been found.

Follow Me, Just two words, Follow Me; By the Sea, Of Galilee, Those two words: Follow Me. Follow Me; Follow Me.

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