As a child you played in the dirt
making mud pies for your daddy,
teasin’ momma with the wigglin’ worms
you were a mighty dinosaur, eating trees made of broccoli
growing like a weed
in the dirt
Helping your grandma pick the berries,
one for the bucket and one for your sugar stained tongue
even the sweet peas and tomatoes tasted better, fresh from the garden,
the dirt rubbed off on your jeans
You happily roamed through the labyrinth rows
pretending to be the lost princess of The Great Beyond
no goblins, no bears to catch you unawares
because your dog patrolled this patch of land
he marked it as his which in turn made it yours
the sunshine warmed ground was the best place in town
for a nap with your best friend
suddenly you found a tougher go -round
and “dirt nap” took on a different meaning
but you were tough and you didn’t cry
when they put grandpa to sleep
his watch, yours now, forever to keep
Daddy got lost, he and momma split up
your world whorled wholly out of your control
you left your farm home, decided to roam and find more meanings in life
you found the grass wasn’t grass, but a hoe was still a hoe
and it raked at your soul, you found the dirt
you dug in and smiled ’cause after a while you just couldn’t stay clean
sleeping in laundry rooms, eating the trash
selling your body
’cause you needed the cash
you dug deeper for dragons and fairies in green
purposely dulling your senses ’cause the streets were too mean
Then one day you saw her, or maybe not
looked like your momma, through your head full of snot
the body was older, the figure was lean
but the eyes when they lighted on you, what a gleam!
she knew it was you from the very first glance
she grabbed at your hand and she pulled you away
said you’re coming home, you’re coming to stay
grandma was gone, daddy’d died too
so much had happened while you weren’t you
away from your friends, mostly guilt dragged you through
but as the days wore on she got through to you
This land she said, this land is our land
yours and mine too
we’ll work it together just like before
but this place is our homeland, it deserves your respect
you love it, protect it or get out the door
I been here now twenty years, maybe more
This land is my home, I’ve opened it to you
The dirt’s a lot cleaner than cities or towns
you’ll understand the magic if we’ve children around
for no matter where,
how far, or how long
the lands filled with sirens
forever singing their song
