Pork Chops
By.J.C.Hill
11-26-01

Pork chops, mustard greens,
sweet taters and black-eye-beans

Fetched fresh from the garden, and covered with home-made sorghum.

Poor folks liven in the Ozark hills
God fearin and mighty strong wills

Roasted acorns from a red hot pan, Grandma said ain’t that grand.

Ma and Pa done took off
left Jeb and me ta foot the cost

Roots and berry’s, fish we caught, just like we’s taught.

Grandma played an old guitar
neighbors come and pass the jar

Grandpa stamped and did the jig, wilest Jeb and me sneak a swig.

Grandma died left Grandpa alone
ta bring us up in this old log home

Popin corn in a old fry pan, smell of Christmas cross the land.

Grandpa did the best he could
raisin us kids by chopin wood

Cow dried up, milk’s all gone, sitin round singin Christmas songs.

Grandma come took Grandpas hand
county come and took the land

Foster home’s not so bad, rememberin what we use ta had.

Mary Christmas from the Hills

[This message was edited by jchill on 11-27-01 at 07:17 PM.]

That was definately a sweet poem. Please tell me it's not true. It has a very cozy feel to it. I don't know if that makes any since, but I liked it.

That was definately a sweet poem. Please tell me it's not true. It has a very cozy feel to it. I don't know if that makes any since, but I liked it.

Well Jack, you did a great job on this one. I don't know the "English" of the Ozarks well enough to know if the vernacular is right, but it sounds that way to this Kansan. Loved the bitter-sweet quality of the poem. Now if you could just get Walter Brennan to make a talking song of it. Of course, I think he is with Grandma and Grandpa now. I did have a question about "small of Christmas cross the land". Is that meant to be small or smell? The last line is very moving and I thought it made the whole poem:

Foster home’s not so bad, rememberin what we use ta had.

And the irony is, even poor folks can have a lot. And pork chops how special a day to get pork chops. Looking forward to more.

Nick

I can trace my lineage back to King Lear's fool, so it is genetic.
Nick

jchill,

Simply complicated...The message was told in a simple way...reporting the facts that had been learned, but a complicated ordeal indeed. Great work.

-Hellsangel

------------------------------
"...Facing a truth I could no longer deny, alone as ever..."
-Dana Scully

what a sweet look at a harsh time in the world.

Sweet, not because it glossed over the hard times, but because it showed how they were full of love.

Thank you for sharing those moments with us.

-----
I won't dance, don't ask me.

I can just imagine an old country house, with all the happy moments going on... senses are so vivid... and you captured the dialect so well.
It is a sad story, but happy at the same time. And it has a traditional feel to it aswell.
I love the line...

Grandma come took Grandpas hand

I just think it is how a child would think, and so sweet. Well done, again!
Love Donna xxx

"Laughter is the best medicine"

Nick
Thanks for the comments and I shell make a small change to smell
The vernacular may not be right, though I did know some Ozark people.

F.E.
I grew up in north St. Louis, some 70 + years ago. Now you know.

Hellsangel
I don’t think it’s great but I’ll keep trying

Rhon 831
The real people of the Ozarks for the most part are as the poem depicts
But the region is loosing its charm

Smiley
I guess at 70 + I must think like a child-Not yet

I am overwhelmed that this was so received
Thanks so very much
and I do wish you all a Mary Christmas from the Hills

I bumped jchills poem about Christmas because of the season and because it deserves it.

Thanks for this one jchill.

Nick

I can trace my lineage back to King Lear's fool, so it is genetic.
Nick

I didn't know QL existed last Christmas so I wasn't around here to enjoy this one..Thanks, Nick, for bumping this up to enjoy for the holidays...A GREAT story/poem!

"There is no disguise which can hide love for long where it exists, or simulate it where it does not" La Rochefoucauld

This was just great,...I'm really impressed.

Once heard a story about these two guy's chasin piggy's,wearin flip-flops,overall's and probably chewin on corn cob pipes.I guess this happened down south someplace.Whatever...

Also had me thinkin about them there Walton folk.John-boy a writin,..and Elli-may cookin grub,..waitin on the snow to break so as to fetch them some eggnog.

Dang,..see how a good story can spark anothers imagination,...loved it,..Merry Christmas to you.

The wild geese do not intend to cast their reflection;the water has no mind to receive their image.-Zenrin poem

What a surprise to see this come up this morning,
thanks Doc. I’m glad you bumped it up.
I'm happy you all enjoyed it again or for the first time.
Jack

I love it Really sweet and moving, but without sounding in the least corny or soppy...expertly done

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
-Archie Griffin ."
-Gene Fowler

I love it Really sweet and moving, but without sounding in the least corny or soppy...expertly done

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."
-Archie Griffin

To me it was a great piece of work, bringing back stories that my Dad, who grew up in the Ozarks, told thru the years. He said that they did not know that they were poor until they went to town & saw how the other people ived. This gave them the incentive to move out into the world. ( I have started a novel about two friends who grew up in the Ozarks, in the 1800's).Don't know when I'll finish it -- been on it two years. Kuz

I thought you all might enjoy it one more time.

Yes, I DID enjoy it again, Jack! (My computer didn't let me reply earlier today when I first read it.) This one just stirs up all kinds of feelings mixed together...good job! I'm glad you brought it up again this Christmas and I'm glad I'm celebrating my 2nd Christmas onboard QL amongst such nice friends I have "met".
Happy Holidays!

"If a man should pick me wildflowers, he would hold my heart forever" J.

This is so sweet I loved it and I also loved the way you 'talked' it through, you are a master with them words Jack, no doubt about it.

~~~~Littera scripta manet~~~ the written word remains. (the saying continues; The weak word perishes)

wow! that is expertly done, catching the ignorant speak in such a poignant way.
I live in this place, only in the colorado rockies.
Also just read another of yours; you are brilliant!
I know their is a large age gap,(fifty years) but I'd ditch my hubby for you.