Ronnie McGinn's Poetry Page

The late Johnny Cash was a poet with a guitar. In a career that spanned almost five decades, to many people around the world, he was the personification of country music. But he never tied himself to a single genre. He recorded songs that could be considered rock and roll, blues, rockabilly, folk and gospel, and exerted an influence on each of those genres. Moreover, he had the unique distinction among country artists of having "crossed over" late in his career to become popular with an unexpected demographic, young indie and alternative rock fans. He released dozens of albums and in total, he wrote over a thousand songs. By any standard, that is a lot of lyrics. Whereas many of his lyrics might not classed as poetry, I still feel we should not ignore his legacy. Johnny Cash died 12 September 2003. David Martin Clarke sent us this poem.

Johnny Cash Remembered

He walked with kings and legends
Presidents heard his songs
He sang of the poor and lonesome
Told the story of many wrongs,

He told us of the Redman
And of the Whiteman's ways
He sang of political corruption
And of the Indian Ira Hayes

He sang of his Lord Jesus
And tried to live by His law
About the war, he was no Hawk
But a dove with a claw.

He sang of the immigrant worker
Who came to this great land
And of the corrupt politicians
Whose castles were built on sand.

Johnny in his suit of black
Now his time is gone
Who will take his place
Who will sing his song

Will he be remembered
Now that his days are done
Who will remind us of the beast
That lives, in everyone

© David Martin Clarke