One time 

you made me cry 

be proud that I 

remember 

my chin is sore 

the bruise is gone 

but the spot is tender 



gave my hand a sister coy 

to Cotton Alley where 

you did enjoy 

your wicked games 

you curious boy 



tied my laces up together 

when I fell 

you laughed 

until your belly was sore 



in the brick laid aisle behind 

the five and dime store 



that's how 

I made you blush 

but doubt if you 

remember 



were my tears genuine 

or thoes of a skilled 

pretender 



nothing precious 

plain to see 

don't make a fuss over me 

not loud 

not soft 

but somewhere in between 

say sorry 

let it be 

the word you mean 



I was a little pest who 

never took a hint 

could never 

take a hint 



you pinched my fingers 

in a door 

tossed my coloring book in a 

rusty barrel 



pulled spiders from my hair 

fingers in the door 



my favorite blue blouse 

stained on the back 

running from a berry war 



can you hear me scream 

in Cotton Alley 

scream in Cotton Alley 

in Cotton Alley


Come as we go far away 

from then oise of the street 

walk a path so narrow 

to a place where we feel at ease 

some think it is haunting 

to be drawn to the cemetery ground 

as we 

there's a stillness here 

thankful found 



child's pose angelic 

a stone lamb at her feet 

part the matted overgrowth 

to read the carven elegy 



some think it so haunting 

to be drawn to the cemetery ground 

as we 

there's a stillness here 

thankful found 



born in New Albion 

of Rice family elite 

wed to Myron Bilowe 

thrice with sons 

blessed was she 

some think it so haunting 

to be drawn to the cemetery ground 

as we 

God's acre is a fenced in 

hollow ground 



here soon to rise up 

Amelia tender and sweet 

her last words spoke 

all is well 

all is peace 



some think it so haunting 

to be drawn to the cemetery ground 

as we 

God's acre is a fenced in 

hollow ground