Spring Song

Sing me a Song of Spring
Of Daffy-dills peekin'
Over on the roadside.
Pussywillow sneakin' out
Her catkins.

Hum me a little bitty tune
Of warmer days an'
Sweet blue skies,
Trees a bloomin'
An' waters warmin.
A song of life an' joy
An' promise...
A song of life renewed
Of the everlast of the hills.

A song that will resound in the rocks,
Be whistled by the sparrow
Hummed by the bees an' wasps an' mud duabers
As they mud their cradles
In the logs of my home.

Melancholy

This color of melancholy
Does not suit me well.
It is faded and harsh
Does not flatter me.

At first I thought it had
A touch of bittersweet.
Looking close there seemed
A hint of what had been.

Instead it is grey
Dulled flat by pain.
Washed out and faded
Bitter with memories.

Wash me and cleanse
Lord of the rains.
Flood the hidden hollers
Cleanse and set me
Free.

Hurts of the Heart

Have you ever had your heart just ache
Bustin' like it was ready to quit?
Hurtin' like some wild thing stuck
Deep inside your chest?

Ever felt like you had failed
Had done nothin' right, nothin' good?
Have you sunk down deep into a holler
Filled with bitter darkness?

Wail at the dark,
Cry and ask God to make it better
Scream to the tops of the hills
For answers that you can't find.

Hold your head close
Cradle it an' cry.
Don't be 'fraid.

There is a new day,
A new day.

Collect Call

They call to me,
They woo me,
Sing like sirens
A song that draws.
Tug at my blood
Boil it hot
Sing in my ear
Whisper as I sleep.
Mountains they call
Hollers they whisper
Heat of the day
Cool of the evenin'
Callin' me home.

Appalachia callin'
Will you take the call?
Where you been, son?
Why ain't you come?
Where you been, now
Ever so long?

Wayfarin' stranger
Wanderin' in northlands
Hankerin' for home
Hankerin' for home.

Heart of the Mountain

Coal dust is in his pores
Likker runs his veins.
Tobaccer smoke pours out his mouth
Poverty his middle name.

Dozen children's all she has
Weary is her soul.
Workin' to keep house an' home
Livin' on commodity dole.

Proud man, humble woman
Careful in their speech.
Hardscabble life an' few rewards
Pity ain't given or received.

Heart of the mountains
Hear them sigh.
Hear them cry an' breath.

Heart of the mountains
Watch them stand
Always on their own.

Heart of the mountain
Watch them go
Generation soon lost.

Heart of the mountain
Where'd they go
Why'd they ever leave?

Heart of the mountain
Listen, hear
Silence in their place.