The Life of Emmy Gray Bunten
In Morgantown Kentucky, oh many years ago,She lived her life of misery in a little white chateau.Her mum passed away in the winter of eighteen ninety three,But from that day Emmy Gray prayed the day she would be free. Emmy only twelve years old, looked after her young brother,She grew up fast, she had no play and her pa she had to suffer.Up early in the morning dawn, collecting what eggs were laid,Making sure breakfast was served and with her kin she prayed. A God fearing pa, always drunk, she listened when he said,A young girls life in tatters, but on the table she served the bread.For she was scared of beatings, as her pa said she’s to fetch and carry,He’d make her walk into town, to the livery at the valley. She would carry coffee, beef jerky, and other essential provisions,Sometimes scared to think for herself, but carried great ambitions.Her pa never took no notice of her, he blamed her for her mother’s death,And whilst drunk on moonshine, cursed Emmy under his rotten breath. Emmy was the mother figure, and was expected to do all chores,Tidying all around the home, polishing doors and mopping floors.Her young brother played around the farm, he was close but never in,Then one day Emmy was having a bath, but her pa was staring in. Emmy stood to dry herself, her skin so pure and soft,Her dripping body shone her charms while holding her hair aloft.Her drunken pa leaning on the door with a bottle in his hand,He said a man has certain needs, you have to understand. When your mum passed away, there was nothing left for me,Now you do as your told today and you don’t tell nobody.Emmy cried a whimper as her pa took her like he must.A broken girl so young in age, her pa just broke his trust. She stayed in bed all day next day, her shock was so appalling,Dreading every minute, in case he pa would come a calling.He knocked on her door around lunchtime and said that he was sorry,He was sober full of guilt and feeling so melancholy. This didn’t last much long as the “shine” was taking it’s toll again,His swearing insults heard from above, it was just a case of when.Emmy Gray shook on her bed, her feelings at a loss,She cried underneath the blankets and bit on her wooden cross. He crept into her bedroom and said don’t upset your ma,‘sides all else, she would have wanted you to please your pa.Emmy let him do his thing, just staring up above,wondering what happened to her pa, the one she used to love. It was early in the morning her brother played outside,Ducking in between the trees, where he used to hide.He never sees what’s going on, so happy in his play,And never sees what’s going on, around him every day. Four years passed and just sixteen, a girl who never laughs,Wondering what if ma had been alive, while scanning photographs.Would my pa be different or was this meant to be,She looks out from the window, to a big dark brown oak tree. Pa runs out next day, Emmy is missing from the stead,He hasn’t got far to look as he sees miss Emmy hanging dead.Her brother holds his pa’s hand as he struggles with his strife,Emmy Gray Bunten’s life was free, the day she took her life. Bernie Logue.