I am from hymns, choirs, and pews
from pulpit hellfire and community news.
I am from a hard history built on hard stories to hear
where we keep tryin’, believin’ the Dream is near.
I am from Saturday communions and Sunday worships
where Roll Tides and Go Vols hang on all lips.
I am from a mix of Yankee and South
though yams are still looked on with good, Christian doubt.
I am from a place where a weekend trip home is worth a full day’s drive
And a Shakes-scene with mom has for 16 years thrived.
I am from heat and humidity that lies on the body like a wet wool sweater
but the fruit from a roadside stand is worth every minute of weather.
I am from blueberry pancakes and biscuits with sorghum and butter
where our fried pies have long i’s and are like no other.
I am from the mountains and foothills, from the rolling rivers’ power
Where tulips grow on trees and yards fill with wildflowers.
I am from south of the Mason-Dixon and just north of the heart of Dixie
from the land of the Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Elvis Presley
I am from sweet homes, yes ma’ams, no sirs, and close kin
where book smarts and folk wisdom can sometimes both win.
I am from the land of remade ancient wonders
a full sized Parthenon where Athena still thunders.
I am from stories of Grammy and Papa, where brothers go by “Bubba”
where mom’s food is the best and dad makes a good strong cuppa.’
I am from a world of 5 am newspapers and chats
Of snoring dogs and romping cats.
I am from sparkly-fogged December sunrises
and frighteningly grey-green April horizons.
I am from a long line of headstrong Celtic and Baltic females
Who are quick to forgive but long remember details.
I am from poor and hard stock, determination and hard luck.
From legendary feuds and red clay muck.
I am from the South—both old and new—and I’m always comin’ home soon.
Author Bio:
Molly Barger is a displaced Southerner living in Buffalo, NY while earning her Ph.D. in English Education. While she loves to teach, her background has always been in Literature and its creation. She loves to think and write in her head while taking long walks with her very large dog, Beowulf, --when weather permits.
from pulpit hellfire and community news.
I am from a hard history built on hard stories to hear
where we keep tryin’, believin’ the Dream is near.
I am from Saturday communions and Sunday worships
where Roll Tides and Go Vols hang on all lips.
I am from a mix of Yankee and South
though yams are still looked on with good, Christian doubt.
I am from a place where a weekend trip home is worth a full day’s drive
And a Shakes-scene with mom has for 16 years thrived.
I am from heat and humidity that lies on the body like a wet wool sweater
but the fruit from a roadside stand is worth every minute of weather.
I am from blueberry pancakes and biscuits with sorghum and butter
where our fried pies have long i’s and are like no other.
I am from the mountains and foothills, from the rolling rivers’ power
Where tulips grow on trees and yards fill with wildflowers.
I am from south of the Mason-Dixon and just north of the heart of Dixie
from the land of the Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Elvis Presley
I am from sweet homes, yes ma’ams, no sirs, and close kin
where book smarts and folk wisdom can sometimes both win.
I am from the land of remade ancient wonders
a full sized Parthenon where Athena still thunders.
I am from stories of Grammy and Papa, where brothers go by “Bubba”
where mom’s food is the best and dad makes a good strong cuppa.’
I am from a world of 5 am newspapers and chats
Of snoring dogs and romping cats.
I am from sparkly-fogged December sunrises
and frighteningly grey-green April horizons.
I am from a long line of headstrong Celtic and Baltic females
Who are quick to forgive but long remember details.
I am from poor and hard stock, determination and hard luck.
From legendary feuds and red clay muck.
I am from the South—both old and new—and I’m always comin’ home soon.
Author Bio:
Molly Barger is a displaced Southerner living in Buffalo, NY while earning her Ph.D. in English Education. While she loves to teach, her background has always been in Literature and its creation. She loves to think and write in her head while taking long walks with her very large dog, Beowulf, --when weather permits.
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