#80 CLOUDS ON A WINDY DAY
#80 CLOUDS ON A WINDY DAY
(Americana)
The wind blew strong and steady,
That day we put daddy in the ground.
12-year-old me and mama at his graveside,
My new suit was black, the coffin was brown.
Uncle Drew sat me down on the porch after,
Says "Stand tall for your ma now Ty."
Took me fishing the next weekend,
Out by the river, he points at the sky.
Clear right now, but it'll change soon,
Sure as night comes after day.
Bad times always blow in,
Stay for a while, but then go away.
Like leaves at the end of November,
Or clouds on a windy day.
Tree stand, cool quiet before sunset,
I whisper "Where are all the deer?"
Uncle Drew puts his bow down, chuckles,
Says "That gets asked twelve thousand times a year."
Duck blind, stormy early morning,
Drew asks how high school's going.
I hang my head, complain the classes are hard.
He smiles, takes aim and says "Learning before knowing."
Rain right now, but it'll change soon,
Sure as night comes after day.
Good times often show up,
Stay for a while, but then go away.
Like grass fires in a dry August,
Or clouds on a windy day.
Framed picture on the wall, law school graduation,
Me, mama and Drew -- big smiles, big occasion.
Three months later, first trial at work.
Turn Drew down, he says "Relax. You're not a jerk."
Late night phone call, Mama makes a strangled sound,
Cries out "Boat crash on the river: your uncle drowned."
Cold right now, but it'll change soon,
Sure as night comes after day.
Bad times always blow in,
Stay for a while, but then go away.
Like blizzards in late January,
Or clouds on a windy day.
Break of dawn, morning after the call,
Sitting on our porch, chill winnd, early fall.
Mama cries, I'm silent with wet eyes,
The clouds move slowly across ruby-red skies.