Another Alabama spring

Bradford pears are out, you can tell
By the sneezes, the beauty, and the smell
Give those D.C. cherry blossoms a fight
Weatherman calling for storms tonight
Seems strange dodging bullets from the sky
But Mama said we never ask God why
Supper simmers over ashen coals
Dusk giving way to blue bug light glow

When springtime comes to Alabama
Hear the song of the yellowhammer
The southland's in bloom, it's seventy-five
Short sleeves in the day, run the heat at night
Winter wasn't cold but it sure seemed long
Wind thru the whipporwills my favorite song
Our six-month summer will soon be in swing
Here's to one more brief Alabama spring

Ball fields are starting to come alive
Recall playing shortstop in eighty-five
Big League Chew and some orange Gatorade
Something awakens old memories made
Birds headed north, mosquitos eating well
Bid early sunsets a welcome farewell
The air cools nice 'neath the Lenten Moon
Gonna be time to start mowing soon

When springtime comes to Alabama
Hear the song of the yellowhammer
The southland's in bloom, it's seventy-five
Short sleeves in the day, run the heat at night
Winter wasn't cold but it sure seemed long
Wind thru the whipporwills my favorite song
Our six-month summer will soon be in swing
Here's to one more sweet Alabama spring

It's dogwood winter and dirty bare feet
Crane flies mating and a screen door creak
Thunderstorm rain softens rust red clay
And I think of springs so far away

When springtime fades from Alabama
Still hear the song of that yellowhammer
Summertime swells in the land of cotton
Younger days there are not forgotten
Winter wasn't cold but it sure was gray
Closed my eyes and the season slipped away
Thank God for allowing me to see
Another stormy Alabama spring

Bradford pears are out, you can tell
By the sneezes, the beauty, and the smell
Give those D.C. cherry blossoms a fight
Weatherman calling for storms tonight

Pages

I've been trying to smile the way I used to
Been trying to feel each moment rushing by
Been trying to savor every sip of whiskey
Not just swallow it down quick to numb my mind

Been spending more time watching the kids play
Been trying to go easier on myself
I don't know why, maybe it's just what happens
When you've read more pages than there are pages left

I don't get upset when I'm stuck in traffic
I'm not in any hurry to reach the end
Here's to my aging Gen X demographic
And childhoods the world will never know again

Been trying my best to carpe some diems
'Cause there are no more books on my bookshelf
Funny, ain't it, how carefully you turn them
When you've read more pages than there are pages left

Been trying to live life outside my phone
And stop thinking about the bad things at all
But it's hard to hear God's eastern bluebird's song
Over gunfire ringing out in third grade halls

Been trying to teach my kids to show kindness
There's already too much hate everywhere else
You think about the world and how they'll find it
When you've read more pages than there are pages left

Been trying to soak up each pink sky sunset
And the magic I've learned that every morning brings
My favorite place is where she and the kids are
Their smiles and hugs and laughter, my favorite things

I've been trying to smile the way I used to
Been trying to go easier on myself
Sometimes you'd like to start the book all over
When you've read more pages than there are pages left