At the Monument

Twirling on marble - studying
Arts martial
Receiving kind words from Tennessee

At the monument for the Union armies
Who fought against Tennessee

Reading the names of the generals
Reading the names of the units
And thinking of men, moaning and bloating
Blown in two by cannon

Fighting Tennessee
Calling out for the mothers, dying
Against Tennessee

While receiving, as I twirled
Studying martial arts

The kindest words I have ever heard
Coming from Tennessee