04-20-2015, 11:21 PM
8th of August
My trip is short--
up two streets to George Clem
the former colored school,
a shell now for storage
surrounded by a beautiful park.
My load is heavy, though,
dragging a cooler behind me
with hands sore from peeling potatoes.
I slip through the alley to save steps--
usually I would have to avoid
syringes littering the path
but they've all been picked up today.
Children will be dancing here later.
I deliver my famous potato salad
and am met with all smiles.
I will make another journey
before the day draws to an end
for the other batch in my fridge.
Running out is not an option.
Off in the distance
drowning out all the music and laughter
comes a thundering rumble of the Motorcycle Club,
arriving from Detroit.
Their trip was longer,
but this celebration isn't about the miles traveled--
but rather how far we've come.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Information you may or may not know: The 8th of August is the celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation here in East Tenn. Although it went into effect on Jan. 1st, most slaves didn't know how to read so the news traveled very slowly by world of mouth. It is said it reached Greeneville on Aug. 8th, and therefore the celebration is that day.
If you are curious about the celebration, a few years back a local musician made a video during it...you can see what I'm on about--and my step son is the rapper.
[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWxn46hiXiQ]
music starts at :30
Sighs...why didn't that work....this site hates me.
My trip is short--
up two streets to George Clem
the former colored school,
a shell now for storage
surrounded by a beautiful park.
My load is heavy, though,
dragging a cooler behind me
with hands sore from peeling potatoes.
I slip through the alley to save steps--
usually I would have to avoid
syringes littering the path
but they've all been picked up today.
Children will be dancing here later.
I deliver my famous potato salad
and am met with all smiles.
I will make another journey
before the day draws to an end
for the other batch in my fridge.
Running out is not an option.
Off in the distance
drowning out all the music and laughter
comes a thundering rumble of the Motorcycle Club,
arriving from Detroit.
Their trip was longer,
but this celebration isn't about the miles traveled--
but rather how far we've come.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Information you may or may not know: The 8th of August is the celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation here in East Tenn. Although it went into effect on Jan. 1st, most slaves didn't know how to read so the news traveled very slowly by world of mouth. It is said it reached Greeneville on Aug. 8th, and therefore the celebration is that day.
If you are curious about the celebration, a few years back a local musician made a video during it...you can see what I'm on about--and my step son is the rapper.
[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWxn46hiXiQ]
music starts at :30
Sighs...why didn't that work....this site hates me.