“Montongo Roads” A Poem

Montongo Roads is the title poem for Montongo Roads. This poem gives a glimpse of the culture that defines Montongo. Thank you for reading!

The roads welcome all

but few stop and stay

            Gypsies and foreigners 

            Free Blacks and outcast Whites

            Methodist folks and camp meeting goers

The roads honor a history of

pride and independence

            The schools and the store

            Squirrel stew dinners and reunions

            Peach orchards and tomato farms

The roads lie somewhere between

self-sufficiency and convivence

            The plow and the tiller

            Virgin timberland and lumber yards

            Red, healing clay and pharmacies

The roads tell stories

to those who listen

            Make sumthin’ out chaself and

            Don’t eva forget where ya come from and

            Don’t let them city slickers fool you

The roads lead to

values rooted in love

            Family and community

            Empathy and compassion

            Philanthropy and faith

The roads create dust plumes

that follow all who leave

            Smith and Robertson

            Thompson and Ridgell

            Turner and Jordan

            Swift and Vincent

            Bird and Gonder

            Green and Harris

            White and Lewis

            Davis and Bassett

            Hegwood and Gragg

            Haynie and Dunlap

            Moore and Harrell…