Life as a Flower (for Rhonda)

Life as a Flower (for Rhonda)

We start out as a bud
Close tight secure
Our family surrounding us
Like the newly formed petals

Time progresses 
Petals expand
Multiply
Friends are added 
Varying hues and sizes

One by one
They wither 
fade
dropping 
away

Exposing the heart

Friends move on
Loved ones pass 

Leaving us with 
Memories
Questions unanswered
Hopes 
Dreams 
drifting down

Scattered  
torn fragments

The heart remains
It too perishes

We are reborn  
seeds planted
containing a fragment
a bit 
Our essence

That which brings a smile
A tear
Lingers 

Minds forget
Hearts do not

~ Ellen Apple 06-21-2014

Solstice Shower

Thunder rolls through
Rumbling
Echoing off the mountains

Rainwater dripping 
Plopping 
Puddling on the lawn chairs

Lightning flashes
Lighting up the dim room
Momentarily knocking out power

In twelve hours 
We celebrate 
The sun

Summer Solstice
Litha

He must be getting all
Gussied up today
Splashing in the tub

Singing in
A booming baritone
To a captive audience

~ Ellen Apple 06/20/2014

Attempt at a poem

A small stone
I hold in my hand
Some call it a rock
I don't understand

Rock sounds so harsh
All pointy and sharp
A jagged departure
Always standing apart

Pebble now a better
Term yet elusive
Rambling about 
Dislodged with a shove

A stone is worn smooth
By time and place
Easily fitting into
Its current space

The rock is heavy
Sinking to the deep
The pebble too mobile
Always on the top of the heap

I shall stick with the small stone
Easily cupped in my hand
Ever present to ponder
Perhaps someday to understand

~ Ellen Apple 06/19/2014

Wednesday Words

Two humans and two cats reside

In our humble abode

The man and woman never hide

When weather is in overload

The cats now that is another tale

That gives one pause to think

When there is thunder and lightening and hail

They hide underneath the sink

~ Ellen Apple 06/18/2014

Monday Morning Musings

I was born and raised in Tazewell County VA. When I lived in Gaston County NC I saw many,many Cotton Mill houses and villages. Now I am back in SW Va, Russell County now. There are houses here that are so like the Cotton Mill houses. It just hit me, these Coal Camp houses - Cotton Mill houses are a visible proof of the hours of labor Appalachians put forth decade after decade, sweating and bleeding and dying, in cotton mills and coal mines, logging and farming. 

We are a rural people for the most part. Proud, self-sufficient, clannish often but that just means we are tight with family and loved ones. We are independent, strong willed, *not* illiterate hicks. The terms hillbilly and redneck are not insulting to us, they are descriptive of who and what we are. We have helped clothe, feed, and keep the lights on for a nation that many parts of look down upon us in return, but we have not given up or given in to the hard rows we have hoed. 

We have adapted, we have turned out generations of doctors, lawyers, authors, musicians, actors, astronauts, athletes ... we have sent our sons to war, followed jobs to Northern and Midwestern cities but returned home every chance we had. 

These mountains are our flesh and blood, they draw us home no matter where we may roam. I am so proud to be from and of this place.

I was not always at peace with my roots. I yearned to be like and sound like the folks on television and in movies. I practiced pronouncing words like the people on the news when I was in my teens. 

I left home at 23, lived in south Florida (Fort Pierce) for almost 7 years, in NC (Dallas) for 8 years, in SC (Blacksburg) for 4 years until returning to Va. 13 years ago. 

My accent has evolved. I was in NY for two extended periods, once 2 months near NYC and then 7 month upstate. While there, especially the 7 month stay that included a brutal winter on Lake Ontario, I discovered the pride and love that had hidden in my soul for the place of my beginnings. 

I am quick to defend my mountain ways, no longer try to blend in. I flew mad so many times over the disparagement I encountered, especially in Florida and NY, for being from the mountains. Now, I am not saying there aren't not-so-good things here. We have severe issues, unemployment and drug abuse are rampant. But the fact of the matter is, that can be said of any region in the country. By and large, the settlers of these parts were the Scots-Irish, and the independant fighting self-sufficient spirit that was their legacy to these parts is, in my opinion, what the whole country needs to rediscover and tap into. 

I try not to be too political (see the Scots-Irish reference above), but things have to change, be better, if there is any hope to be found at all. 

Defining Moments

Defining moments 
Happen all the time
Quiet little snippets
Ignored
While looking for sublime

A breeze
A smile
An attentive ear
Defining moments
Happen all the time

~Ellen Apple 06-13-2014

I give up

My last post was not promoted on Facebook personally or on the Page we have.

Same number of views as if I had promoted it.

Facebook is ineffectual and a time sucker.

I am so over all of the politics - xenophobia - racism - liberal this - conservative that - preachers - baiters - trolls - users - abusers -

Much less will be seen by me on Facebook

I have *8*

Yes EIGHT

followers of this blog

So I am a voice crying in the wilderness

tap tap tap
anyone there?

Never a comment - except for Leigh, dear sweet cousin always so encouraging - I love you!

06/19/14 UPDATE

After the pity party, I looked closer .... more than eight people read this blog, I was just feeling isolated and alone that day

The 8 is google+ followers, I also am on networked blogs, and many of my followers link through Facebook.

My pity party made it sound as though I do not see and appreciate the kindness of each person who reads my words, and that is so far from the reality!