Through Her

Through her memory, we travel
Into a past to only her thus known
We travel through her then
And through her now

“Blue grass” fields with adventurous flowers
Dreams of possibility beaming from the majestic hills and trees that
Fortified her castle of imagination

Racing streams bubbling along creek banks
Laughter joyously ringing and mellow hypnotizing breezes of
Hopes and secrets dancing to her own drum beat

Sweet candies
Home made biscuits still steamy from the oven
And
Fresh country apple cider gracing her lips

Intriguing goldenrods
Enchanting aromas from mystical flowers
And dusty air from wagons traveling along her road

Songs to clap
Mud to mix
Soft cloth to grasp and
Baskets of summer berries to carry from the woods to her home

A heart that had endured burials behind the old church building
Puppy deaths, wild fires
Courtships and tears
Marriages and children herself,
To begin again
Another generation

********

Now businesses
Paved walked ways and
Dreams dreamt

Requests for candy from little ones
Tales of new stories
New laws and events

Frozen foods and sugar
Not made with the same love and care

Scents of mowed grass
Fumes of gasoline
But still the enriching flowers
That can to this day captivate her into a relaxing daydream

Grand children to hold
And Play
Medicines to take
And now another hand to hold

A heart full of memories of the golden days
When she ran by the hills
And fished from the river
But now in her heart
There are loved ones deceased and past
Battles fought between others and more
Hearts to mend
Feelings to understand

After living in this place
Through her we know
You might change
The land might change
But no matter what
Something will still remain
The feeling you get
When you stand on quiet day
And the wind strokes your face
And the secrets of the land are engraved into your soul
You can proudly say
That you belong here

That’s the feeling
We feel in Kentucky

That’s the feeling
Through her

Erica
Ohio Co. Middle School

---