Arkansas Library

All the history I know
I learned from Johnny Horton

and all the history he knew
he learned from Jimmie Driftwood.

Where Jimmie picked up
his history I really have no idea.

Some of it seems dubious
at best. But, that’s not the point.

The point is Jimmie
was an Arkansas library.

Johnny learned his history
from him and I learned

my history from Johnny
and that’s all there is.

That and the perfect songs
we’re condemned

to repeat.

–April 24, 2018