Mountain Mama

Sometimes I return
to West Virginia  
to the Mountain Mama
of my mind.  
 
Sunken povahty  
black lung'd minahs
my fathah's aroma  
filling tha house  
with dyin'  
'fore his tahm
 
An' those le'yaft  
sittin' in peelin' sha'hells  
o' homesteads  
they'ah dayabbed-own  
accent o'emphysema  
a'suffocatin us
who'scaped
moe screamin'
tha'yan a slaughtah
o' innocent la'yambs.  
 
Sum'tahms I return
to West Vah'giniah  
though it's hahdly
the "Heaven"  
John Denvah
sang about.  
 
~