Sleep Baby Girl



Sleep baby girl.
Heaven don’t
choose no favorites.

This graveyard real estate
might have you sleepin
in the corner, but Jesus
don’t care the color of your skin.

Up on the hill above you
there’s some fine tombstones
rasin’ up from the dirt,
all marked with fancy names.

Those pale scratches
in your stone long gone.
It just sits propped against
the fence for people to wonder.

Folks walk down to you
and put their heads down
sayin’, “Look at this forgotten one.”

You aint forgotten. God been knowin’
your name since the minute you was born
and he keeps sayin’ it when he walks
past you in heaven.

Yes baby girl your body’s still sleepin’
in that corner where you was laid.
Them bones up the hill has grown silent
because death came to show them
they was never any better than you.


 ©Susie Clevenger 2012

Photograph: Forgotten  ~ ©Teresa ~ Razzamadazzle
Teresa at Razzamadazzle graciously offered her photographs for inspiration for our poetry.
Also posted at dVerse ~ Poets Pub OpenLinkNight ~ Week 56

Comments

Maude Lynn said…
Oh, wow. This is just outstanding.
Susie Swanson said…
This is so beautiful Susie. You are such an excellent writer and Poet..You captured her so well...You take care..
Mimi Foxmorton said…
Oh my goodness........
I am blown away........
(and crying...)

This needs to be seen by the world.......

Most wondrous!
Mimi Foxmorton said…
Oh my goodness........
I am blown away........
(and crying...)

This needs to be seen by the world.......

Most wondrous!
Kay L. Davies said…
Oh, Susie, this is so wonderful it made me cry. A great write.
Luv, K
Ben Ditty said…
Wow, an incredibly unique voice to this!
Teresa said…
This is so beautiful. I am truly honored that you could create something so touching from my photo.
Susan said…
Thank you for this fable with its ring of truth and irony. I like the delighted and sassy narrative voice, and wonder why she's a laundry goddess, but hey! She explains the silence.
Jinksy said…
The voice speaks true in this poignant Mag. :)
Grace said…
How beautifully you wrote this, my dear ~

Love the tone and meaning behind the words ~
Kerry O'Connor said…
Ooh! This is excellent - raised the goosebumps on my skin to think of the little forgotten child. Your use of the vernacular added a whole new layer of meaning to the words.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
This is written so poignantly, Susie. The topic, the tone, the voice, all so eloquent. Great work.
Ginny Brannan said…
Wow, excellent piece Susie. Love the tone, the vocal inflection in this. and the last line just floors me. Outstanding!
Semaphore said…
Well done. Thematically this can't help but pull at the heartstrings of the reader, and its authenticity is punctuated by the voice you've found for the poem.
This was powerful and I love the voice used. Very cinematic-and I mean that as a compliment.
Claudia said…
yep...she aint forgotten... what a wonderful, moving write susie..
Brian Miller said…
you gave me a shiver susie.so lyrical and authentic a voice...very well done...
Mary said…
Beautifully written in a unique voice. And so true, she is not forgotten......no one is!
hedgewitch said…
Really good, Susie. So hard to write in dialect and have it sound authentic like this. You create not just a life to honor here, but a whole way of life. (So good to see you well enough to join or poetic party, too.)
Tigerbrite said…
This is wonderful Susie :)
Louise said…
Beautiful writing, Susie...poignant & moving
Vinay Leo R. said…
No one is forgotten.. sometimes, it feels so when people say so, but it's not.

Touching, heartfelt poetry, Susie. Loved it. Outstanding, as MZ puts it.
Powerful story well told
Ken Higginson said…
Very good! I can hear the rich accent of the speaker - honest - empathetic - loving.
Margaret said…
Oh, Wow. I only just read the first line and will now go back and finish the rest... but that is one of the most amazing openers I have ever read.
Kateri said…
Catching up a little late from Sunday's challenge...love this..."You aint forgotten. God been knowin’ your name since the minute you was born and he keeps sayin’ it when he walks past you in heaven."
Geraldine said…
So sad, so touching...beautifully written Susie.