Down to the Lick Log
Sometimes, the rubber hits the road. Or, to use a more personal metaphor, sooner or later, we get down to the lick log. I know a lick log because the cows at Mamo and Papo’s farm had salt licks. My Uncle Jimmy put the blocks of salt on stumps in the field behind the barn. The cows, for God knows what reason, liked salt. They would low their way to the salt lick and, well, lick. Their black tongues worked a cupped indention in the salt block. When the cows arrived at the bottom, you could see the stump wood.
I always thought this appearance of the wood was what generated the phrase “down to the lick log.” Turns out, farmers originally made salt licks by hollowing out a tree log. Same theory, though. In either case, when the cows had almost consumed the salt lick, wood showed through.
At various points in my journey of familial discovery, I have arrived at the bottom of the salt lick. Sunday is one of those days.
An essay I’ve written entitled, “Granddaughter of the Instigator,” will be published in the Juneteenth issue of Salvation South Magazine. So much vulnerability in that. Telling my story. Admitting my ignorance. Holding myself out as able to accurately portray major historical moments. I always envision potential negative outcomes, never good ones.
And, yet, I continue to write these essays. I continue to submit them for publication. In this particular instance, I have put extravagant energy into getting the essay about my ancestor’s involvement in the Vicksburg Massacres as good as I can make it. It’s important to me to tell these stories about my ancestors. But the moment before the work goes live, I find myself thinking of black cows’ tongues, depletion, lick logs. At least I can talk to y’all about it. 🙂
Salvation South Magazine, The fear of publication, Vicksburg Massacres
Emma French Connolly
Congrats Ellen! I’m looking forward to that coming out. I always learn more about you every time. I read your pieces.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
TY, Emma. I’ll send a link. Chuck Reece, the editor, did a fabulous job. I’ve learned a lot from him about final edits.
Donna
Brava Ellen! You have an incredible heartfelt introspective perspective in all your essays. I’m looking forward to reading this one as well.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you, Donna. Those are such kind words. 🧡
Marie A Bailey
Ellen, what I love about your essay is that you are telling an important piece of history, one that has been white-washed (pun intended) for too long. The story isn’t about you. You don’t ask for people to feel sorry for you. Instead, you want people to know the truth. As a descendent of the Scoundrel, we can argue that you have a duty to share what you know, to raise awareness, to learn from our violent past. You carry this duty with such dignity and eloquence.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you, Marie, for all of that. I do want the emphasis to be on learning from the past so together we can create a different future. Trite, but if you know history, you can see it trying to repeat and perhaps intervene.
Marie A Bailey
Yes, a value of history is to learn and try to avoid repeating the wrongs committed. We have our work cut out for us with the current administration.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Amen to that! Fun to see you out doing your part this weekend. 🙏
Marcee
I remember those salt licks on the farm. I have never used it as a metaphor for anything; you amazingly use everything in your experience.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Isn’t that fun? I almost went into a tangent about the cows being SCARY, but I didn’t. 🙂
Joanne Corey
Vulnerability is scary. This all makes sense to me. I will need to circle back around and read your essay as we are getting ready to leave for London and I have no brain at the moment…
And, of course, I had to look up about cows and salt. https://midwesternbioag.com/baileysbit-salt/
Ellen Morris Prewitt
They have an “urge” for it! How interesting. Thank you for doing that work. 😉 Have a wonderful trip–so glad you are getting to go.
Joanne Corey
Thanks, Ellen! We arrived safely, although the trip was pretty hard on my body. Resting up today.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
👍