Southern Gothic


She is a lost generation
A subcultural anomaly
Standing on a dilapidated front porch
Smoking a Camel, or was it a Marlboro
I forget as the memories swirl together
Spitting watermelon seeds off of the porch
Throwing mud pies up on PawPaw's barn
To bake
Hidey Holes and Pretties
And banana sandwiches
Dr. Pepper and Strawberry Nehi
In the bed of a truck
Of a Saturday night
Wishes and Dreams and Scarlet O'Hara
Wishes for changes and liking it just the way it was
Embarassment~a feeling of inferiority
That somehow mellows with age
Becoming a source of pride
Southern Gothic or just plain craziness
Disguised as something presentable
Because that's just the way it was.

Melissa Reese Etheridge
September 28, 2013

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