Country

Grand Ole Opry Stage
Photo by Randy Piland
From Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau

I came to them in middle age
the Ryman and the Opry
plangent plainspun songs
guitars with plaintive strings
family faith and flag
the anthems threading lyrics
penned to Nashville’s sound
this homely fusion blending
opera gospel blues and folk
verse-chorus-verse-refrain
laid down upon a simplified
progression three chords
dressed with drawl and twang
it parses pain and hardship
sins of pride grave wounds
of psychic injury incurred
by trying climbing falling
trying rising all to just get
knocked down flat again
it’s music made of leather
land and love and life it
finds the noble in our flaws
and celebrates small victories
it sings to me and I sing back
what else could I want better
from my radio than that