Emily Minh Walker

1998 COPYRIGHT
BY PETER CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND

ONCE I KNEW THIS GIRL WHO LISTENED TO MY SONG
THOUGH IT WAS DARK AND EVERYONE WAS SLEEPING
HER HEART HAD BEEN REELING SINCE OUR MIDDAY MEETING
THOUGH TEMPTED TO SLEEP HER WILL WAS STRONG
WHEN I WALKED TO HER PORCH THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE AIR
IN A COOL FLORAL PRINTS SHE SAT IN THE CHAIR
A SOFT FLOWER PLUCKED FROM A BLAZING RICE FIELD
AMID THE POPPING TERROR AND FIRE THAT WOULDN'T YIELD
THEY STOLE YOU FROM THE GRASS BEFORE THE DEADLY SHOWER
AND YOU WAILED AND WEPT FOR ALMOST AN HOUR
FOR YOU THAT TERROR HAS GONE AWAY
YOU BEAR NOT THE FAINTEST MEMORY TO THIS DAY

YOU SMILE AT ME FROM BETWEEN BECKY'S KNEES
WITH A SIZZLING SPARKLER WHIPPING FLAMES IN THE BREEZE
YOU LAUGH AT THE EXPLOSIONS IN THE AIR
THEY'RE BOOMING ALL AROUND YET CAUSING NO FEAR
WHO WAS YOUR MOTHER WHETHER LIVING OR DEAD
QUESTIONS LIKE THIS NEVER TROUBLE YOUR HEAD
THE DEAD ARE LIKE SPECTRES HANGING IN THE SKY
BUT SOMEHOW SUCH NIGHTMARES PASS YOU BY
ON A WARM PEACEFUL DAY YOU WERE ADOPTED
AND EACH NIGHT YOU'RE TUCKED INTO A WARM SOFT BED
I WONDER THOUGH WITH THE PASSING OF GUNFIRE PEEL
IF THERE WAS SOMEONE LEFT SEARCHING IN THAT FIELD

ONCE I KNEW THIS GIRL WHO DREAMT ABOUT HER MOTHER
A FIELD SCORCHED AND SMOKY AND LOUD STACCATTO THUNDER
AND THERE WERE GREY MOUNTAINS AND A HOUSE THAT FELT LIKE HOME
AND A WOMAN AGED BEYOND HER YEARS STANDING THERE ALONE
EMILY GOES TO SLUMBER PARTIES AND PLAYS WITH BARBIE DOLLS
PASTING HOMEMADE VALENTINES AND DRINKING CHOCOLATE MALTS
SHE HUGS HERE MOM AND DAD IN WHOM SHE PUTS HER TRUST
AND GIGGLES WITH HER FRIENDS IN THE MORNING ON THE BUS
SHE SLEEPS SO PEACEFULLY THOUGH THUNDER RIPPLES CLOSELY
AND SHADOWS OF THE APPLE TREES ARE TALL AND EVER GHOSTLY
I HOPE THAT WITH MY SONG YOUR DREAMS WILL BE ENHANCED
JUST NOW SHE WINKED AN EYE AND GAVE A GENTLE GLANCE