 Termination Winds |
| ©Linda Allen 1989 We came here in '29 and settled near White Bluff Dug a farm from sagebrush, Lord, those years were mighty tough But Uncle Sam bought all our lands, said it'd help the war to end Soon our farms were blown away by termination winds The desert wind can blow here 'til you've almost lost your mind Sand will fill your mouth and nose and eyes 'til you're half blind Some folks dig in deeper and just pray the storm will end Others pack their bags and leave these termination winds I went to work for Hanford, that was nineteen forty-three What we labored hard to build remained a mystery The land was torn up pretty bad and the dust storms would begin Folks stood all day to draw their pay & leave - termination winds Chorus Instrumental Well, things are changing fast these days, the old plants have shut down Some folks have been worried 'bout what's buried underground I've spent sixty years here - it'd be hard to start again Guess I'll stay and see what comes with these termination winds Notes: I spent time in Kennewick with John and Mikki Perry. John works at Hanford and suggested the theme of "termination winds"...a well-known phenomenon amongst Hanford employees. I also stayed with Bud (a fine cowboy poet) and Shirley Stewart of Royal City. Shirley's family was displaced by Hanford back in 1943, and she had stories to tell. |