Jenna’s Tears
(a Civil War
tune)
Sits a dog-trot
log cabin in yonder green meadow
Her beau went
away to win some damn ole war
Jenna’s tears
flow in lamented afternoon shadow
Waiting
brokenhearted to night wish upon a star
Sovereign states
secede in joined Rebel Confederation
Righteous Union
boys don the “Blue”, volunteer to fight
Ole Abe gives
the civil-uprising Presidential consideration
Fort Sumter
volley; bloody Gettysburg; Atlanta-burning site
Jenna’s love
allowed a month to defeat the Damn Yankee and win
Disciplined Union Army marched across Dixie
scorching the land
Evil begets
evil! Young men transgress? Surely the pernicious sin!
Cotton crop
trampled; cotton bales burned; plantation slaves banned
No peace! Ever!
From those seeking “Peace”-speak motivation
No sooner the
first anger-shot than a search for hope-resolution
Leaders lavish
meet to discuss terms in frustration-consternation
Polticos blood
protected through a business older than prostitution
Sits a dog-trot
log cabin in yonder green meadow
Unpainted
weathered wood barn leans near-by
Jenna’s tears
flow in lamented afternoon shadow
Eyes search the
dark heavens for a salvation-reply
Sweet Jenna
waits two long years for a letter from her beau
None other will
she look at nor endanger her sacred vow
Horror stories
visit home as she prays, “He’s alive! I know.”
Jenna waits as
promised, saving herself as best she knows how
Finally, a
letter! He’s alive! Held in a prison-camp hell-hole
Death!
Depravation! Starving! A stench of brimstone hot hell
He tells Jenna
to forget him; his spirit is broken; he has lost his soul
He’d forsake it
all. Honor ole Davy patching up the Liberty Bell
When their tired
ole battles end, as surely they all must
“Wounded”
soldiers trudge past, vacant any promised trust
Pure wasted
national blood-treasure---ashes to ashes…dust to dust
Sits a dog-trot
log cabin in yonder green meadow
Her beau went
away to win some damn ole war
Jenna’s tears
flow in lamented afternoon shadow
Waiting
brokenhearted to night wish upon a star
