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written by Kara Gall - Eustis, NE |
Demeter Waiting is a song that weaves in imagery from the Demeter/Persephone myth to express the endless waiting in times of drought. Demeter’s anger at Hades for stealing her daughter Persephone caused a great and terrible famine on the earth. Throughout the past six years of drought in Southwestern Nebraska, many of us have felt as though we were suffering at the hands of the gods … that a much larger force is at work…the anger of a god scorned. I also wanted to capture the particular fate of women, farmer’s wives, during the time when I was a young girl. I can remember my own mother standing at the windowsill certain summers, looking defeated. The women stayed at home, tending the children, waiting, always waiting, and praying for the rain.
Demeter WaitingLeans her head against the windowsill Fans her neck with the electric bill It’s the middle of June and still no rain… Corn is burning in the field Wheat prices won’t meet the yield And there ain’t no change on the weathervane
The children all have been tucked into their beds Storm clouds to the west Just won’t come to a head It’s another waiting game The anger of Demeter burns the plains
Now she’s known as a farmer’s wife Quite a change from the city life She’ll learn to gamble with the land Dust is risin’ from the ground Grasshoppers are all around Is there no end to the gods demands?
The children all have been tucked into their beds Storm clouds to the west Just won’t come to a head It’s another waiting game The anger of Demeter burns the plains
Who, who will bring the rain?
The pastor’s preaching carnal sin, The men are at the bar again Drinking down the only grain for sale. Now her only daughter’s gone The bank’s forclosin’ on the farm Has all her hard work gone to hell?
The children all were once tucked into their beds Storm clouds to the west Still won’t come to a head It’s always been a waiting game The anger of Demeter burns the plains
Who, who will bring the rain?
Leans her head against the windowsill Fans her neck with the electric bill It’s the middle of June and still no rain… © Kara Gall 2003 |
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