Nothing and Something and Everything

Something and Nothing .

Born on the banks of backseat bayous
where muddy palm prints
smeared across beer breath tinted windows,
      and the way fish
      are always bitin' when it's rainin'
                - is really nothing new

Born in backwoods off back roads
where the bruises from a bible belt whoopin'
welts gapped thighs
like a relief map headed in the direction of
anywhere but here,
      and the same people
      who pray with you, prey on you.
                - but that's nothing new

Born from backsliding into the depths
of the same ol' trash barrel bonfires,
bellying the rocky bottoms,
and clawing
and crawling
a way out
      Born from walking away.
      Born from running away.
      Born from not looking back.
              - that's something new.