Demon Box

The sky got gold and we watched the ducks for a long time without saying anything else. I felt good, virtuous, almost righteous, as that first day ended and I enjoyed the dawning realization that my dual fast was actually working: I hadn’t gone near the TV and I didn’t want to screw any of those ducks.

Blackberry Vines

Blackberry vines and barelegged wimmin
They led me astray, they took me in swimmin
I reached for a cherry but I got me a lemon
‘Midst blackberry vines and barelegged wimmin.

Death Valley Dolly

On a barstool in Barstow I met her
In Kingman I quelled all her qualms
In Phoenix I fought to forget her
To the clapping of 29 Palms

Oh, Molly, my Death Valley dolly,
You’re gone, by golly, you’re gone.
Where the roadrunners run from the coyote sun
My fierce little falcon is flown.

Eating noodles in Needles she caught me
With a Nogales gal on my knee,
So while brawling in Brawley she shot me
Then jumped in the sour Salton Sea

Oh, Molly, my Death Valley dolly
You’re gone, by golly you’re dead
Where the scorpions hide and the sidewinders slide
You lie in your alkali bed.

Ragweed Ruth

Ragweed Ruth was unmowed maze
She was nightshade in the morning
Her ragged flag was often raised
But she raised it like a warning.

No mate had she but emptiness
No family filled her time
She sipped instead on bitterness
Just like it was sweet wine
like it was sweet wine
She soothed her throat with emptiness
Just like it was sweet wine.

The best spread once found anywhere
Was left by her old man’s leaving
But she farmed those fields like a fool at prayer
And watered them with dreaming.

Her hay was wind and wanderings
Shocked up by forked rakes
Her grain was threshed by thunderings
Her trees were tangled snakes
trees were tangled snakes
Her grain was threshed by thunderings
Her trees were tangled snakes.

Each spring the farmers from around
Brought axes and advices
But Ruth would firmly glare them down
To forge her own devices.

For she was plenty to herself
She survived the seasons through
She was dark bread dipped in health
She was her own strong brew
was her own strong brew
She was dark bread dipped in salty health
She was her own strong brew.

Then came the dry when the farming men
Failed and cracked and fled
Ruth invited all the families in
And somehow all were fed.

Plow never cleft her bottomland
Nor harrow stroked her sod
Still, golden ears and marzipan
Up sprung from where she trod
sprung from where she trod
Golden ears and marzipan
Sprung up from where she trod.

The passing of her wandering walk
Could fill a tree with fruit
At her glare the shriveled stalk
Would straighten, stand and root.