Grassroots Poet


I'm a grassroots poet
the only school I hold a degree from
is The School Of Hard Knocks
the writing techniques I employ
are gut honesty and a vivid imagination
my only real redeeming quality
is courage enough to speak my mind

I'm a down to earth person, accepting
I'll never be quoted in textbooks
or recognized as a great poet
from either century I've lived in
when I'm dead and gone, my words
will probably perish with me
but I just keep penning them anyway

I've been poor and middle class
wish I had a dollar for every pound
of dirt and dust I've cleaned up
had dirt under my nails
and callouses on my working hands
I've been a professional business woman
and a damn good one at that

I know about life, I've lived it a long time
I know about love and the lack thereof
I know about being used and abused
and pushed down into the molds of others
until my square corners are raw
chaffed from round holes they've occupied
I make no excuses for what I feel or write

I'm a grassroots poet
I've lived near to the earth and nature
I've admired God's creatures up close
and found beauty in the ugliest of them
I've smelled the plowed earth and mown hay
and when it's time to lay beneath them
a grassroots poet will feel right at home