Virginia

Virginia's abound with hills that roll off her shoulders Wet rocks glisten on the edge of the lazy water Translucent fish arching through the cold channels Silver barbed hooks rusting in tree trunks Dangling over the water, and breathing life into the earth Wet like your skin, see-through blue eyes Making waves as the children pirouette off the stone cliffs Disappearing into the emerald green and slate shadows Meeting the cool rush of the river when they get down there Or that old carp that Lizzy caught last summer but she let go Swim bladders shining like mirrors, reflecting oily promises Running after the great blue, pistons heaving in the hills Soot on daddy's solemn brow, over his gentle eyes They all come running, soaking and plodding home Eager hands grasping for the pie in the window While the last beat of the summer wind kicks around Makes the quilt with many colors take flight on the line One more day under the belt, and another notch in the bed post Sleep like kings, little Southern Royalty That old time hang dog moon will see you through