'The Man in Black'

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Wed, 26 Feb 2014
  • 2957 reads
17 comments
 
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
for the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin’ for lives could have been;
each week we lose a hundred fine young men
Johnny Cash  26/02/1932 – 23/09/2003
 
The man wore black and wrote a song
'bout Vietnam...’bout how he’d heard
on the news the fighting had stopped,
albeit fleetingly. Seemed the Vietnamese
had more pressing things to do; seasons 
paid no heed to war and the time was ripe
for planting...the Mekong Delta rich 
in rice, its precious white gold.
 
The man wore black and wrote a song
'bout Vietnam...’bout how he’d heard 
slaughter would resume just as soon
as they’d done sown their crop. So moved,
he posed the question, in the name of God,
what kind of animal was man, to put
hostilities on hold to keep alive the living, 
and, job done...return to the business
of killing? Pity it is, that his song
is yet for the singing.
Certificate 12
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Unclassified

Comments

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Subsequent to his passing, a diary was found, in which Johnny Cash had made notes, of poems, song lyrics, he'd hoped to publish some day.  He never did.  This poem is based on one such, dated October 24th 197 (remainder of the year absent) It was untitled. The diary - eventually auctioned and fetched $1,375...Lot 759 of 982. 

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Wonderful, Tina. I think it's great that we were on the same page about doing a Cash tribute. And yours was very fitting. It's my favorite Johnny Cash song.

Rich xx

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Rich...very muchsmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Stan x

 

Submitted by jeand on

This is a great poem Tina - both from the literary point of view, and from learning more about Johnny Cash. I really enjoyed reading it.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Jean.  Much obliged to you.

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Very thought provoking and so we'll written

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you, Bee. So pleased you thought so.

Tina

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

beautiful Tina - what everyone above says..

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, insert; a bonus, always, hearing from yousmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you, Biggus.  Good of you to drop by, and I'm really pleased you thought sosmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thought-provoking, Tina. One wonders whether they knew what their motives for their war was.
Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Indeed, Rhiannon, indeed.

As ever, your thoughts highly valued.

Tina

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Tina,

The irony and paradox of feeding the living before resuming the killing as expressed in your poem delivers  such a powerful punch.  Very thought provoking and one that will stay with me.

Moya

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

So pleased to hear that,Moya.  I must admit, whilst researching this poem I learned a great deal myself.

Thanks again.

Tina

 

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

Hi Tina

as has been said the business of feeding the living side by side with killing them is quite startling.

Lovely piece.

Lindy

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

My thanks to you, Lindy...that's it in a nutshell.

Tinasmiley