Black Lung Road
Just came from a funeral the ninth in my life
I’m tired of strugglin’
Tired of strife
It’s claimed my bloodline
While warming my skin
I hate the same thing
I can’t help but love
Papaw had black lung and mama left town
She didn't wait for his time to come round
My brother, we lost him when the ceiling fell in
It was the last time Daddy saw him
We tattooed canaries and coal in our skin
I’m sittin' here feeling like I’m draped in sin
I called out for Daddy. I called out to God. I watched the walls cracking, saw the rocks fall. I heard my mine rumble, saw the world left behind. We'd said Coal was king, it kept the fires stoked. It kept food on the table, kept Mama at home. I thought of my life, my girl back at home and I knew it was nearing...I felt myself choke. I could see Mama walking. She left us alone. While Daddy was dying and sister was home.
When the mine caved in so did my heart, now I drive alone every night. My coffee like the coal that blackens my heart. They called me a psycho back home because I didn't cry when you were buried alive. I've driven the miles you couldn't go, away from that place where people don't leave. I'll see you at the end of my road, when the tears that you ordered me not to cry turn to blood.
Pedal to the floor, gravel to pavement, I’m going for broke at maximum speed and never looking back. I’m playing the long game to San Diego until the world takes me or I reach the sea, either way, it'll be the death of me. I’ll travel the distance to make you proud Pawpaw, and I’ll always bring you with me, my brother. My weapon is my word.
A pickaxe against the chaos.
The chinking clang of metal on stone
Resonates as I roam
More constant than the vibrations of the road.
I’ll never go back.
I’ll never go home.
Would you be proud Paw, of what I’ve become?
A wandering wastrel chasing the sun.
I won’t miss that lean-to, paying rent for a fuck-you
in taxes and non-stop emergency bills.
I won’t miss the dogs howlin- all night those kids bawlin
Cause they ain’t got nothin to eat.
I did right by my last name, so guess that is your game
So hard- I’ll rush through this dust
I drive to a city not coated and gritty and I’ll lock down some good paying job
I’ll carry em with me
And tell of the story
How coal
was part of my life
But it taking our souls stops tonight.
Tonight's Prompt: We each picked a favorite song of ours and used it for inspiration to collaborate on a Prose Piece. The only other rule was that we couldn't use the song we picked ourselves.
Songs:
1) Anne Brun- All My Tears
2) Morgan Wade- Psychopath
3) Cake- Going the Distance
4) Oh Hellos- Soldier, Poet, King
Written by @Plexiglass_fruit, @Shells, @Fabulam, @ChrisSadhill, and @thePearl