Hypnogenic Ecstasies

Hollis Brown

he lived on the outside of town

with his wife and five children
and his cabin broken down

well you looked for work and money
and you walked a rugged mile

your children are so hungry
that they don't know how to smile

your baby's eyes look crazy
they're tuggin' at your sleeve

you walk the floor and wonder why
with every breath you breathe

the rats have got your flour
bad blood it got your mare

is there anyone who knows
is there anyone who cares?

so you pray to the lord above
please send you a friend

but your empty pockets tell you
you ain't got no friend

your baby's crying louder now
it's pounding in your brain

your wife's screams are stabbing you
like dirty, drivin' rain

your grass is turnin' black
there's no water in your well

you spent your last dollar
on seven shotgun shells

way out in the wilderness
a cold coyote calls

your eyes fix on that shotgun
that's hangin' on the wall

your brain is a-bleedin' now
your legs can't seem to stand

your eyes fix on that shotgun
you're holdin' in your hand

there's seven breezes blown
all around the cabin door

seven shots ring out
like the ocean's pounding roar

there's seven people dead
on a south dakota farm

somewhere in the distance
seven new people are born