The waves of the Cumberland heave solemn and true

A sickness moved through us

Paroling fog in the gut, and

Escaping heavy through

My chest gaping towards you—

You there burning in your Appalachian coal, and

Tobacco long highways

Grieving loud in your sigh

Til one day I fell, too far—

Deeper than the Southern sand, that is

Whistling above Earth

Oh Solemn, I pray.

Our love grew dense and tangled, and messy that summer

Foggy and yellow, and stained wrought like

The pews of your youth.

For Heaven cried loudly with its yawn and blue tears—

I remiss.

I weep for you.

Sleeping, there, as big as stands Time—

Snuffed above the smoke rushing higher than your ghost

And the stench of impermanence drifting lonely

In that river, Hell moaned, moving fast and out of sight.