Madisonville Memories

Following a recent trip back to visit my father's family in Madisonville, TN, many memories were awakened. We'd spent a lot of time there, he and I. I was reminded of it in Tuesday's writing group.

In writing group, the poem was "Once," by Tara Bray.
I wrote from,
". . . It's a dull world.
Every day, the same roads, the sky,
the dust, the barn caving into itself,
the tin roof twisted and scattered in the yard."


It used to be a dull trip.
Same winding road thru the fields.
Turn at the country store.
Wind the narrow road.
Watch out for the oncoming cars.

I know the road by heart.
Destination the small house,
the barn, the spring where they get their water.
Turn in the driveway.
Don't let the chickens peck you.

Here they all come to greet us.
Aunt Hazel with open arms,
Tall and gaunt Uncle Ern,
Cousins Charles and Gene waiting on the sidewalk.
(The other four boys/men had already moved out.)
Daddy and I walk up the steps.
Oops, gotta find the outhouse pretty soon.

Walk into the house,
see the loaded table,
met by the wonderful aromas of country cooking.
Biscuits and gravy, fried chicken, and fried okra,
green beans, and fried green tomatoes.

"Dinner's ready," she says.
To me it was lunchtime,
but they talk funny here.
"You'uns," and "we'uns," a different dialect.

But what was clear was the love--
Love that filled the house.
Always one or two of the other "boys,"
come by in time for the meal.
Most of them live "down the road a piece."

Daddy's family,
Different lifestyle,
Same love.