A Doe in the Morning Shower

Her leaves exhale springtime

And inhale my breath

Her height shades my eyes

From the fiery shimmer above

Dew drops lay peacefully on the thirsty grass

Clouds like blobs of down

Absorbing moisture

The sun begins to fade

The air smells like shade, Earth, and river

Down clouds stretch over the mountains

And become as black as precious coal

Thunder rolls like drums in Heaven

Sky tears almost fall, but not yet

I am still warm from the sun's glitter

A relief of rain across the region

The rivers of Appalachia rise

Her plants drink up

Animals run for cover

Fish kiss the ripples above

Necks of flowers bend

But the pressure soon ends

The land is wet

Sunlight pierces through the coat of black

The aroma from earlier cooks in the sun

Sautéed goodness

My mouth waters as I contemplate lunch

The Best Place Is Your Home Place.

http://appalachianwriters.blogspot.com/search/label/Appalachia

 

Stolen Heritage

Mountains destroyed
Hills laid low
Torn open to its heart.
Heart of the mountain
Ancient root of life
Precious black coal
Ripped from the depths
Broken and crushed
Moved, trucked and taken
From the hills of home
To power plants, factories
And homes distant
From our mountains.
The rubble, discard and ruins
Thrown down
Tumbled to the valley
Crushing and filling the hollers
With no thought
Of the beauty below
Or of ancestral homes.
Much less the sacred graves
Of those who ventured
As wayfarers
In a new land.
Appalachian pilgrims,
Pioneers forgotten.
Buried alongside
The primrose, sassafras
Honeysuckle, magnolia and sourwood.
All as if they were flowers
Forgotten at the grave
Cast off and buried
In the rubble
Of questionable progress.
Cry, Oh Appalachia
Weep oh hills and hollers.
Mourn what we have lost
Gnash your teeth
That we have allowed
Strangers
To buy,
To steal our heritage
For the sake
Of coal.

My Mountain Song

The day my mother told me--I'll never forget.

"We're moving to Tennessee."

Instant fear and regret.

Those words consumed my mind

And with tears in my eyes, I sighed.

What about school? I graduate in a year!

What about all of my friends? I struggle to hold back tears.

But there was nothing I could do, for the date had been set.

So I had to stay strong and tell myself, maybe this is for the best.

I knew my life would be different in those years to come.

From year-round summers, to red and yellow autumns.

There laid no beaches here, just mossy creek bottoms.

I didn't see any alligators or crocodiles.

No manatees or sea turtles.

There were horses in my backyard instead of boats.

Rows of green palms became shady oaks.

From warm sunburns to chilly snowfalls.

And where the land had once laid flat, now stands tall.

From loose sand to packed clay.

From milky coconuts, to dry hay.

What is this place?

At first it sucked, and I didn't fit in.

Until I graduated and came to CN.

I learned all about Appalachia, and I was moved by her culture.

I began to dream big dreams for me and my future.

A teacher, a reader, a singer, a believer!

And now I realize, I finally see.

Whatever I become, whoever I may be,

I know my biggest influence is Rocky Top Tennessee.

Mountain Top Removal: End it.

More than 500 of the oldest mountains in the world have been blown up thanks to surface mining.
This process is something that humans have chosen to do in order to collect coal.
We all know that coal is burned in order to produce our electricity. However, coal is a non-renewable resource and when it is burned, it has terrible effects on human health and on the environment.
Coal mining is a serious job, with a serious paycheck. Although the workers are making money, they are also destroying their homes and families.
Sadly, Appalachia is becoming more known for its high production of coal instead of for its loving community and wonderful landscapes. Even though this is a highly powerful industry, it can be stopped.
If you want to put an end to surface mining, you are part of the .029%
That is less than one percent of the entire world population.
If you love Appalachia, you will do more research on the matter.
I'll even help you get started....

First, please watch this 4 minute video on the effects of strip mining.
If 4 minutes is too long, then you are careless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUBObYnPvxE

Second, visit www.ilovemountains.org to sign the pledge and make your voice heard.
(there is also another video on their home page that is worth watching: it explains the harsh effects on human health due to surface mining).

Third, enjoy this amazing Appalachian musician, Lou Wilson, in her ability to share the love of her culture through music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5p3rTdyJ_4

That's only three steps!!! Let your voice be heard and watch our region transform.