(no subject)

[meryt_sekhmet]

A Kentucky Mountain Ballad
by Ray Helton

Where you coming from, Lomey Carter,
So early over the snow?
What’'s them pretties you got in your hand,
And where you aiming to go?

“Step in, Honey. Old Christmas morning
We hain’'t got nothing much;
Maybe a bite of sweetness and corn bread,
A little ham meat and such.

“But come in, Lomey. Sally Ann Barton’s
Hungering after your face.
Wait till I light my candle up.
Set down. There'’s your old place.

Where you been, so early this morning?”
“Grave yard, Sally Ann;
Up by the trace in the Salt Lick meadow
Where Taulbe kilt my man.”

“Taulbe hain'’t to home this morning.
Wisht I could scratch me a light:
Dampness gits in the heads of the matches;
I'’ll blow up the embers bright.”

Needn’'t trouble. I won'’t be stopping;
Going a long ways still.”
“You didn'’t see nothing, Lomey Carter,
Up on the grave yard hill?

“What should I see there, Sally Ann Barton?”
“Spirits walk loose last night.”
“There was an elder bush a blooming
While the moon still give some light.

“Yes, elder bushes they bloom, Old Christmas,
And critters kneel down in their straw.
Anything else? Up in the grave yard?”
“One thing more I saw:

“I saw my man with his head all bleeding
Where Taulbe'’s shot went through.”
“What did he say?” “He stooped and kissed me.”
“What did he say to you?”

“Said Lord Jesus forgive your Taulbe;
But he told me another word;
Said it soft when he stooped and kissed me;
That was the last I heard.”

“Taulbe hain'’t come home this morning.”
“I know that, Sally Ann,
For I kilt him, coming down through the meadow
Where Taulbe kilt my man.

“I met him up on the meadow trace
When the moon was fainting fast;
I had my dead man’'s rifle gun,
And kilt him as he come past.”

“I heard two shots.” “ ‘Twas his was second:
He got me ‘fore he died.
You’'ll find us at daybreak, Sally Ann Barton;
I'’m laying there dead at his side.”