Peace Beneath the City

Here's a prayer for the body buried by the interstate Mother of a soldier A tree in a forest up in flames Black valley, peace beneath the city Where the women hear the washboard rhythm in their bosom when they say "Give me good legs And a Japanese car And show me a road" Sing a song for the bodies buried by the riverbank A well-dressed boy And a pig with a bullet in the brain Black valley, peace beneath the city Where the white girls wander the strip mall, singing all day "Give me a juggernaut heart And a Japanese car And someone to free" Say something for the body buried like a keepsake Mother of million mouths with the very same name Black valley, peace beneath the city Where the women tell the weather But never ever tell you what they pray They pray "Give me a yellow brick road And a Japanese car And benevolent change"