The first sign of Memphis
by 
Written by Stewart Acuff
When we were kids the first sign of Memphis was the First Tennessee Bank tower
Where the cotton planters and brokers kept their money and did their deals
We had nothing to do with those rich folks
I loved Memphis
Big city
Big time sports
Best barbecue in the world
Exciting streets
I miss Memphis–
The music and food and all the culture
Stax and Sun
The street and
Church
I miss the beans and greens and real cornbread
I miss all the folks
I miss the big park right on the levee where I spent so many nights slapping skeeters and sipping beer and watching the Mississippi roll by slow and steady, strong and majestic headed to New Orleans, knowing nothing is strong enough to stop its
Endless flow.
© Creative Commons Copyright 2012
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Stewart Acuff is America’s best-known and foremost labor organizer. He is the former organizing Director of the AFL-CIO. Acuff has also written two books: Playing Bigger Than You Are: A Life in Organizing, and Getting America Back to Work, coauthored by Dr. Richard Levins.
