Red Mountain Edition

"Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it.
Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it.
Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window."
 ~William Faulkner

Once Again on Highway 52


Drivin' once again on highway 52

tryin' to forget what I must do  

All my hopes and dreams may fade

if I hide and stay afraid

tryin' to imagine something new  

Carolina winter may be gray

but my conscience tells me I must stay

Another country limit sign

a crossroads that I can't define

Considering my choices...they are few  

Drivin' once again on 52

tryin' to imagine something new

Though many folks have passed away

the ones I love need me to stay

the woman that accepts me, I love you  

(the purity of twilight, deeper blue) 

                                                                         (c) 2010   Patrick Frank

  On the Blue Ridge Line, by Patrick Frank is a 132 page collection of country-folk-blues lyrics, along with a series of brief essays on the creative process. Some of the lyrics are set in New England, others in the South. The themes include self-discovery and romance and a number deal with the experience of poverty-homelessness and social justice issues. Underlying all, is a connection to spirituality. 

The book includes an in-depth, experience-based discussion of lyric writing and performance, as well as creativity/personal growth, informed by his  background in Eastern and Native American philosophy and as a mental health and school counselor.

The author writes;  "On the personal side, I am a poet-essayist-songwriter, second Master's level teacher-counselor, blogger, and advocate for the poor whose work has been published in about 70 periodicals and anthologized three times. I am married and we have three “adult-kids” between us. My primary recreational interest is in basketball. I grew up and lived in the South but also spent 20 years in Southern New England. My wife and I will be moving to Asheville, NC from SC in the near future."

A Poem and a Song


It is so easy to give up

so easy to say it doesn't matter

so easy to play it cool

so easy to ignore the limitless sky  

so easy to be cynical

easy, so easy to put somebody down

so easy to demonize, and draw lines in the sand

so easy to hide your face on the crowded street

or that seedy bar downtown  

It is easy, so easy to turn your back

on a friend who is spiraling out of control

It is easy when you fear that something

you covet may be lost  

It is easy to make up an excuse

and say "Hey, brother, take it easy,

you're in my prayers, talk to you soon"  

when you know all you're gonna do

is to imagine you're somehow better

than he is  

imagine you're better, throw his address

into the garbage

and move on  

It is easy, so easy to pull the trigger

but once you say the words they may

burn like fire in someone's heart

they may cut to the core  

inflicting unimaginable pain

in the end  

So hear my words, reflect on this

and consider someone else

for once in your life  

the way I should have done

the many times I've messed up  

My mindlessness, lack of reflection

Where did it come from?  

It is easy, so easy, to pull the trigger

but once you do, someone may fall  

and not get up. That's what I realize now

many years later, near the end of time  

my precious time   

(copyright 2010 by Patrick Frank)