Grounded in Ground Mounds

I am grounded most successful

In the hills and mountains, blissful.

In these mounds of Appalachian earth and hue

Full of ridges, hazy and blue,

I am reminded of my roots and connection

To nature and my mother’s affection.

These ancient spires

Do thoughts of warmth and family inspire.

The location of my early days on earth

Seeing mountains while learning to walk by the hearth.

I am grounded in these mounds of ground

Unburdened, unworried, unbound. 

-The Poet of Windy Blue

I wrote this poem recently after taking a trip to Roanoke Virginia on veteran’s day weekend. This also happens to be the weekend of my wedding anniversary. Roanoke, however, is significant to me because it is where I spent the first few years of my life living there with my mom. This was my first trip back to that place in 21 years. Needless to say, it spurred a lot of conflicting emotions in me. Mostly bittersweet connection. Bittersweet connection to my mom and to a place that she always remembered happily. A place where several home videos show her happy and content. It was good to get back, and it is simply good to get outside and do some hiking in the fresh mountain air. I can see why she loved it there so much.