Mississippi Turn-Around

by Nick Jaina

Tell me how the terror shook the ground
and made the Mississippi turn around
turn around and run reverse
scare the puppies back into their mothers' purses

tell me how the sky came aching down
and made the Mississippi turn around
turn around and change the seasons
call the contests off for sentimental reasons

tell me how to make her turn around
change her mind and make her turn around
pull the train right off its tracks
put the weight of it on piano movers' backs

turn around I'll make you turn around
turn around I'll make you turn around
how did I ever stop believing
the only thing that matters is your own freedom

the city makes its brutal choices
long fingers in the dirt of divorces
all the heroes are in cages
all the cowards are on the front pages

the city makes it bright eyes sour
red ribbons from the emerald tower
every preacher steals the toast
I'm in love with the story of a ghost

stop trying to read my mind, I'm thinking about
how I would like to read your mind