Ray, no one knows what it’s like to carry water
The way your mother made you carry it—
Even the boy Pharaoh
Wore a yoke on his shoulders
Just to show he was a man.
History doesn’t matter much,
At least until your child
“Done gone blind”—your Mama saw it—
“You always got to carry water,” she said.
“This ain’t no kidding around…”
Long time
You carried water
In both hands,
Feeling for the path
With your feet.
Ray, your Mama knew—
A song comes that way—
Or else it never will…
Laugh or cry it’s the same.
A Mockingbird listens from a telephone wire…
Long time, water, both hands…
Copyright 2006 by Stephen Kuusisto