Evelina (1976)

 Evelina (1976)

I am everything she prayed
I wouldn't be

Couldn't be
Because of promises made by her
to her Lord

I always felt she was going to her knees
just for me
Last thing in the evenin'
First thing before the cock crow

Yet
I stole from her

I'd sneak in her purse to take a few of her cigarettes
Blowing circles that my stick limbs
Could hula hoop with

I'd sneak in her frig and steal a beer or two
Trying to numb the wails of a boy
So I might be a man in her eyes

Stole her homemade wine at night
Playing cards in her kitchen with the cousins
Her threatening the switch if we made her get up

Yes M'am
We sang in chorus
And then kept drinkin'

When my father died
I needed to steal her dignity
Her grace

Her faith

And like everything else
My grandmother let me have them

Praying I would become
Everything I am not