In 2006, I was honored to be invited by Turner South Cable to write a poem on the theme "My South", which I performed for television as part of their Turner My South campaign.
My South’s Boys
In my South - men grew up in the
creek,
skinning snakes, sunning leather
in trees.
My southern man could fire a twenty-two
or tear a truck through red logging
roads
even before he was two.
My southern man was raised on Brave’s
baseball,
Church diners, and Saturday
night, dirt races.
My southern man loves the outdoor
salt life:
hunting, camping, climbing, or –
even - whittling with a knife.
My southern man can rock a pair
of waders.
He casts magic to zip in fresh
fish
then fries them up in a cast
iron skillet.
My southern man is never scared
of wolf spiders, bats, or even a
bear.
Like a boy scout my southern man
is always prepared.
My southern man can name all the
stars,
then stay up late telling wild
yarns.
My southern man know how to make
a little go a long way,
he doesn’t throw away money on
fads of the day.
My southern man loves to eat
country cooking, he doesn’t
want nothing to do with trendy
tapas or anything vegan.
My southern man is friends with
his neighbors,
whether puzzling things out
beneath the hood of a dodge,
or early morning hunting up at
the lodge.
My southern man is the light of
my life, so
Thank you Southern Mama’s for
raising ‘em right
with chests brimming with Blue Ridge mountain might
and hearts generous as a sweet
summer night.