Diamondback - Josh Tillman

Something broke through the brindled soil

Rattling the grass

Spittin' like coal

My spade came down across his spine

A terrible fear flew across his eyes

I said we both have lives that we are owed

You can own an acre, but not what it grows

I gave no heed when I got in

Had bread and tea and then the beast got skinned

Diamond skin on a hickory post

Blowin' like a curse in the knee high rows

I never in my life had seen

The kind of rain we had that spring

A flood washed up every rainbow snake

And I was soon begging them to let me stay

They gave no heed when I got in

They said ''You can hunt hares in our garden

You can hunt hares in our garden''

Who will love a loveless thing

Betrayed by God, exiled by beast

I can hear you in the floorboards deep in the night

You could have freed me and redeemed your life