the tennessee kid

on mardi gras day the tennessee kid

awoke in a puddle

of his own worst fears

haunted by the ghost

of vague remembrance

no corporeal beast he could name

so the kid invoked lucifer himself

with oaths most grievously discourteous

and charged him submit

forthwith to atone

at the crossroads

celebrated in song

come on

up jumped the devil

in the middle of the thoroughfare

who dares to utter my most secret name?"