The Letter
Big Mary gots da gap in her teeth
Da mole side her nose
Black bump on her cheek
Big Mary tote da hump on her back
And her chins hang low.
Big Joe he gots da hay in his hair
Da bump on his ear
Da grease on his back
Big Joe he got da bacca-brown tooth
And his beard hang low.
Big Mary comb da ash for da soap
Da wrap on her knee
Cris-co on her toes
Big Mary has da hair on her chin
And her chests hang low.
Big Joe he gots da red on his neck
Da curls in his nose
Brown jam twixt his toes
Big Joe he got da fleck in his eye
And his ears hang low.
Big Mary sweats in front of da fan
Her teeth in a jar
Fried squirrel in da pan
Big Mary bile da greens wit da hock
And her chins hang low
Big Joe he got da tar on his boots He spit in da can
Snatch flies wit his hand
Big Joe he yank mudcat from da crick
And his pants hang low.
Big Mary lays her face on his gut
Big Joe pets her head -
A hard sob escapes -
Da letter slides from fingers to floor
And their tears hang low.
©Naomi Marshall 2017
YOU ARE READING
Chicken Teeth
PoetryIt's my pleasure to share this eclectic mix of poem, prose, and song. These are stories from the Tidewater: that gentle land that slopes into the sea and cradles the Great Dismal Swamp. I hope you enjoy the read'n of em as much as I have enjoyed...
