Appalachia Rising

born in a holler
raised in a shack
learned to get by on
what the land gave back
never knew the world
of the great beyond
Appalachian man forever fond
of the sweet blue ridge land
he grew up on

he knows the ridge
like the back of his hand
pain, drought, and hunger
made a boy into a man
he’ll never break free
of his blue ridge bond
home is here on the land he’s on

living on a meager ration
put down, disparaged–
proudly Appalachian
it’s a simple life in time
where he feels the beat
of nature’s rhythm
and the ties that bind

born in a holler
raised in a shack
learned to get by
on what the land gave back
never knew the world
of the great beyond
Appalachian man’s sacred bond
he’ll never leave the land
he grew up on

this is where he hunted
high on the ridge
learned about family
learned about love
learned to make the most from a little, to rise above

Appalachian man knows what he’s made of
thankful for the privilege
when god made home
he made his blue ridge
he made our home like heaven
gave us blue grass and wine,
fox grapes and pintos,
sugar and ‘shine
everything needed
under the sun
when god made his blue ridge
he knew his work was done

life here’s a challenge
but no outsider knows
the peace of the mountains,
and the way the wind blows
real silence exists along
old country roads
the way it’s always been ain’t how the story goes
the trees begin to whisper,
we’re all realizing
the time’s has arrived Appalachia’s rising
the time’s has arrived for Appalachia rising

born in a holler
raised in a shack,
learned to get by
on what the land gave back
never knew the world
of the great beyond,
never left the land
he grew up on
Appalachian man fights
for the land he’s on

© Brooks Bradbury / BrooksLooks 2016