Poems for Mangled Hearts

Promises

The “Depression" They called it.

Malignant Boll weevil stare

Him and drought stole the crops

Farming it’s self was already scarce

“Industry" The new big thing

My Daddy didn’t mind

Migration bought the customers

Dust bowl drove the rest blind

Well great job Hoover!

Look where we are

F.D.R’s gonna fix us though!

He’s gonna heal our scars!

And Daddy made a promise 

“The cotton’s gonna sprout,

I said I’ll never leave you,

But we will leave this drought.

A week or two has past

Daddy just got word

“I was drafted," he said

I knew what I had heard

Before I could say

Daddy spoke my thoughts 

He said, “A promise is a promise;

I guess I was caught."

Daddy shook his head 

He didn’t want to go 

But there’s a war out there

Someone had to show

He said I’d stay with Aunt Lucille

That I’d watch the farm

Daddy had to go

But he’d be back with no harm

And the day he left

We both said we love each other as he kissed me goodbye

He said, “I know how to keep a promise." He shook my hand and cried

A week or two would pass

I never really knew the meaning of “war" Lucille said it was worlds way of solving things

Some said it violently broke us to the core

Still the land was pore

And of course so were we

You would say we grow nothing,

But I do see weeds!

I wish Daddy were here!

Oh he’s so missing out

F.D.R’s made some changes

Now we farmers do count!

I sent another letter 

Yet still no reply

Lucille said “Oh, I’m sure he’s just busy."

Then seven more days slowly went by.

Daddy would be proud!

There’s something the people call the A.A.A

And F.D.R gave us electricity

Oh, it’s a brand news day!

I’m running short on stamp

But Daddy can take his time

I saw one cotton plant today

Daddy will sure be surprised!

Thank you so much Mr. President

Things get better every day

Daddy will be pleased

Now all we need is rain

Yes, the drought’s still here

But that’s all the bad that’s left

I may not have my Daddy’s letters

But really, we’re blessed!

Daddy will be home soon 

Lucille is taking great care

F.D.R is helping us so much

It’s almost too much joy to share

Yesterday was my birthday

Daddy’s in my heart

Another patch of cotton grew

And this is just the start!

I was sure he’d be home by now

But he always said patience is a virtue

And Lucille said have faith and love,

What doesn’t kill you won’t hurt you

But hours, days, even weeks went by

No word from my Daddy soldier

But more time went by

My heart could only get colder

Lucille even began to worry

Her eyes lost happiness and her hair grayed

She always seemed to keep it together

But then passed another day

This morning I woke up

Cottons spreading in the field

But even that didn’t cheer me up 

Hope was my only shield

Then like usual I left for the mail

Maybe a letter is here

When I got to the store, people all stared

I wouldn’t know it’s my worst fear

I was too young to know what a yellow paper is

It had Daddy’s name on it, “Henry Terrell Eit read.

So I believed a letter from him it was

But a telegram it was instead.

I ran home to Lucille with a smile on my face 

When she started crying went blank

She said, “Sweetie, Daddy’s dead!" Slowly my heart sank

I ran outside and stopped crying

I said, “Lucille, Daddy’s proud of me!" Outside the sky filled with rain 

“Daddy never left."

Cotton all the way the eye could see

Daddy never missed out

In his heart he thanked F.D.R

To him farmers always did count

Daddy is watching over me from heaven 

Lucille is doing a pretty good job watching me here

I’m watching the farm

God’s watching all of us gently sincere

A simple farmer’s miracle

Every one saw it rain 

But I believe it was tears of joy

Coming from my Daddy today

In the end the war stole my Daddy’s life 

F.D.R returned the farm

I kept my Daddy’s spirit

And promises weren’t harmed.