Black lung words
hung on daddy’s tongue
pulling me from coal
on the white wing hope
I’d see a better day.
He said the devil paints
rainbows with pills,
but lies stain your body blue
until brown dirt coffins your bones.
Son, I’ve been living gray shadows,
but tomorrow is bright yellow with sun.
Don’t be stuck where midnight owns
the valley… tie your shoelaces and run.
©Susie Clevenger 2019
