Texas Hodown

Texas Hodown is a memory of a romantic and troubling time from my childhood. I was ten, just moved to Texas with my folks and desperate to fit in. It was the western part of the state, dry as bone and full of anticipation. The late 70's were a desperate time for many people in the U.S. Gas prices were out of control, jobs were few, and the world was getting smaller. We moved from Michigan, away from family and friends, my parents hoping to settle down and plan for a bright future. Financial strains, immaturity, and loneliness would ultimately snuff out the flame of any bright future.

The Texas summers were a lot of fun. I would often run through the desert, chasing road runners, catching horned toads, and having imaginary gun battles with outlaws and Indians. The desert was and still is a wonderful place to escape. Hopefully, Texas Hodown carries well into that memory I still hold on to after all these years.

On summer days when the wind felt feisty,
Small dust devils bounced and whirled about.
Tumble weeds baked brown in the hot Texas sun
Danced a square dance up and down and all around.
Lizards and snakes did a promenade, clapping their scales
To a hodown funk. One played a fiddle and
Sang a slithery song. I stomped my feet and yipped
Like a puppy being kicked.

From inside the house Mother yelled, "What's that noise?"
I am a lizard and I am a snake.
I dance with devils and spin with weeds.
"Wait till your father gets home."
Suddenly devils became resting dust and nothing more.
The wind skipped off for another part of
Town. And snakes were snakes,
And lizards were lizards.