Ode to Appalachia
By: Dr. James M. Davis
Appalachia is not just a beautiful place,
Appalachia is a more than mountain space,
Our way of life is well-defined, black gold being mined
Sometimes misunderstood, but raised to be good,
We mountain folk believe in life,
We have persisted through much strife,
You don't have to wonder if we have spirit,
Just listen to a banjo and you can hear it,
We farm, forest, mine, and labor,
We will fight, defend, protect our neighbor,
Our voices have an old English twang,
Our voices lift up God as we sang,
Mountain pride that you can't hide,
Mountain landscapes towering at your side,
Rolling hills, shallow rivers, and winding streams,
Hollers, communities, and sprawling fields of dreams,
Some are like Loretta a special coal-miners daughter,
Others are graduates of a great alma mater,
Some are making, baking, and creating,
Others are are building, thinking, and debating,
We wear the stars and stripes with pride,
We fly old glory on our porch and do not hide,
Hospitality, southern charm, always warm,
To our families and children, best do no harm,
Country style cooking, delicious flavor
Moms special dinner, we always savor
Dad teaches us how to hunt and fish,
Country people know how to prepare a dish,
Our young learn the old folks lore,
Our old pass on knowledge and more,
We Baptize our people in the river,
We praise God, He will deliver,
Grandma in the kitchen, cooking for the kin,
Raising young uns right to avoid sin,
Grandpa raising a garden, driving a tractor,
Reading the Bible, being a life factor,
I am mountain, country, a simple man,
We are a people than always can,
She is a stunning beauty from up in the holler,
Our family has worked hard to earn every dollar,
Appalachia is the frontier blazed by Walker and Boone,
It is land shown by Monroe's Kentucky Blue Moon,
It is an area of Native splendor and wonder,
Appalachia is located just over yonder!
####
Dr. James M. Davis, native of Manchester, Clay County, Kentucky is a technical high school principal and professor of psychology. He is an alumnus of Eastern Kentucky University.
