“Within Appalachia”
It is within these mountains which I reside,
That I find peace.
Peace within the tallest oak trees, within the squirrels darting about,
Making their way through the crunchy leaves of late autumn.
Peace within the black eyed doe, hair thick with the expectations of the oncoming winter,
Of the bright male cardinal, a reminder of those long gone.
It is within these mountains which I reside,
That I find promise.
Promise that many years after I have returned to dust,
These holy mountains will still stand.
Older than Pangea, older than Saturn’s rings.
Promise that while many things may change,
Appalachia will not.
It is within these mountains which I reside,
That I find hope.
Hope that the oncoming generations will break free of this poverty,
Will craft a life that is bigger than themselves.
Hope that regardless of what path they may take,
It will always lead them back home.
It is within these mountains that I reside,
That I find beauty.
Beauty within every sunrise and sunset,
Every rolling field and valley.
Beauty within the great stones bursting up through the soil,
And the vast lakes and rivers of the region.
It is within these mountains which I reside,
That I find my ancestors.
Ancestors such as Johann Dolly,
For which Dolly Sods name became.
Ancestors of unknown men and women whom I share a bloodline,
But not a memory.
Ancestors whose legacy I will pass on,
And cherish for the remainder of my life,
As an Appalachian with no plans of leaving.
Author: Jasmine Kowalkoski
Sophomore @WVWC
