Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MATTHEW, by CLARENCE MAJOR


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MATTHEW, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Miss brown, my woman, died


Miss Brown, my woman, died
in a blazing fire in New Orleans, 1863.
Dumb child dropped the oil lamp.
I gave the child, a sick girl,
to Miss Harriet, in Jackson.

Went out to Wyoming parts,
became a bounty hunter with Joe.
Battle after battle.
Joe got shot in Denver,
cheating at cards.
White man shot 'im.

I spent six years rustling cattle
on a Texas -- New Mexico track.
Today, I am old and out of tricks.
Never thought I'd cross back to the Southeast, but
can't stop thinking about Mama.
Nevada, though, is a hell of a way
from Waycross.


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org




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