Coal Country Conversations
by Ronald Tobey
The first of May
Rain splattered the cabin’s shingled roof
With unrelenting truth,
Your baby only a month away.
Alice lost a twin
The smallest preemie one point three pounds
Life’s struggle couldn’t win.
Marylou’s farm three calves died
Froze in winter’s last storm
Five degrees for two days
Just new born.
Becky’s two-year old girl
Drowned on the blanket where laid down
In her crib,
The other twin now don’t look to make it.
Through the night
Heart racing
Sheets soaked
Your nightmare fright traces with sweat
Coal country conversations.
Dying plucks base cello notes
Among the village kin
Their vigil awake the whole
Moon full night
Around your kitchen table,
Care from deep wells
Hand over hand pulley rope drawn
Water from the bucket pure
To cups poured, sweet, till dawn
Knits the comforter of hope.
Resolve to protect your soon-to-be
Drew you back into sleep,
Guardian of sanity.
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