Home Again

HOME AGAIN On these stones your father labored To reduce living moments to chiseled Dates, names, and Masonic emblems. And what did he have to show for it? Swollen liver and vengeful wife. On this town you labored to reduce Humanity to Altamont and Dixieland. And what did you have to show for it? An unforgiving town and a hurt family. Now, all lies stone-deep in the calm Of daylight and dead; mountain empty Of your mortal flesh; the air above The grave empty of angel. But I know what is here, what was. This is holy, this ground which holds The germ of my launching. Winter comes Soon, old friend, and I breathe the fall airTalisman of your talent. — John P. McAfee John P. McAfee, originally from Texas, now lives in Asheville, N. C, and teaches there. 1 ...