Typewriter Rodeo: Willie’s Always Right

Each week, the Standard reaches out to Austin’s Typewriter Rodeo for a custom poem on Texas topics.

By Kari Anne HoltAugust 14, 2020 9:40 am,

The pandemic and its toll on lives and livelihoods cause many to feel strong negative emotions; fear, anger, stress, depression. Those feelings are valid. But a reminder from a dream version of one iconic Texan might be just what some need in these dark moments. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Willie’s Always Right

Willie Nelson came to me
in a dream last night
he said
Hey, baby,
it’s okay, you know?
Everything’s gonna be alright.
And I said, How, Willie?
And I waved my Muppet arms
HOW can ALL THIS MESS
EVER
be okay?
How can any of us
EVER
be alright again?
And he said,
Cause, baby,
the sun will keep shinin’
your heart will keep beating,
your mama will still love you
day after day
night after night
then he tipped his hat
and I woke up
and wouldn’t you know it?
Willie was right.
The sun still shines.
My heart beats strong.
My mama loves me, no matter what
and for right now
in just this moment
that’s all I need, really,
to feel pretty okay,
to feel mostly alright.

typewritten poem

If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it here. Your gift helps pay for everything you find on texasstandard.org and KUT.org. Thanks for donating today.