Really, Nashville?

Country-boy meets big-city girl,
boy invites girl into truck

he’s got a great idea
why don’t they get some beer

and ride down, preferably,
a dirt road, but any back road

will certainly do,
the the bonfire

out in the woods, the country
or somewhere

equally remote.

Every country songwriter’s
gonna be there,

except Hank and George
and Townes and Tammy

and Faron and Steve.
They send their regrets

but, they wouldn’t be caught dead there.
They’ll all be at home listening

to Jimmie Rodgers,
but, still…

the attendance at this bonfire
is gonna be incredible.

They are gonna have
themselves a ball

once they get through
the line of traffic

headed down the dirt road
to the bonfire, where

hopefully, they’ll get to enjoy
sitting on the tailgate

listening to every country songwriter
sing their song about riding

down a dirt road
to a bonfire out in the woods.

I hope it’s a clear night
‘cause then they’re

also gonna get to enjoy
the silver light

of that neon moon.

–October 5, 2017