Gravity and Grace
Walking around downtown Asheville Gravity and Grace in my back pocket I watch the young men of Carolina Some of them wearing for real suits Over pastel shirts all the colors of spring Tall boys with prominent Adam's apples Who look like the boys who died On the beaches leaving girls at home Who are old women now pushing One hundred who need assistance Living in homes out in the blue hills Though they married and had children Who had children who had children They keep pictures and letters still They've forgotten so much But will never forget the young men I see tonight in groups of four and five Crawling from bar to bar This boy here was hers As he steps across the threshold He glances back to make sure His friends are following him Like he did that day in Normandy