Southern Legitimacy Statement: I grew up at Greenup County in Kentucky right near Plum Fork Holler. My grandfather was a graduate of Leavenworth in Kansas where he received his federal degree in Moonshine. Jesse Stuart came to my high school, 1967-1971, twice a year to speak. Every sentence began with “I.” And ended with a plea for educational accomplishment and racial purity, plus the wish that protesters be shot then put in the army—which seemed the wrong way round to me….I went to Morehead State University where the principal at home wanted to know if I was “making bombs” because I was a “dangerous” integrationist anti-war pacifist liberal. I played pointy shoes and funny hats Shakespheare at Central Park in Louisville. I now live happily at the north where I married a dangerous lefty woman from New York City.
When She Dressed Up Nice
When She dressed up nice That red dress with the slit in the side The pearl pins in her cobalt black hair Nights out with the Emperor Smelling of perfume and hairspray She was HISTORY But she was just Story When she was at home hangin’ out Waiting for the mopped floor to dry In her flip flops on the phone Tryin’ to find work Fortune telling sign out in the window Hair up, smoking a cigarette Praying for that call waiting to beep Legs crossed, kickin’ the top foot Like it’s in an unseen chorus Did She like the Emperor? A job’s a job and you got to feed the kids You gotta feed them, she’d say More than Snow White and poison apples More than fairy tales--- That’s your Story, Honey, she’d say There’s your fortune n everybody’s ever lived--- Now, pay me
