.*a Heart-Lined Journey Poem by Debora Short

Evidence of your loving heart
Springs awake
Touchstones of delicately
Translucent sunny yellows

Edge your ancient homestead
Dogwoods, peaches, crocus
Carefully heart-line a journey
Back to where your world once stood

Old roses now rabble upon a headstone
Your sweet little girl’s final resting place
A crumbled barn near-by
Where Ol’ Bossy was once stalled

Providing milk for the children
I can almost hear them
A lively bunch-singing out
…Tag your- it!

Fresh churned butter and home-baked bread
That sweet cream whipped up
Adorning Sunday’s special
Blackberry cobbler treats

And I wonder
What became of you and your dear family?
How did these old hills come to claim
Your songs sprinkled in sunny love?

(Back-road Sojourns, Tennessee—March 20,2007)