We stood together, Betty and I,

On the hillside among the graves

Overlooking the old school house

Now a church.

The spirit of the valley sang to us

Through the wind stirring the grass and leaves,

The sweet call of elusive birds,

The clouds waltzing around the sky

The tinkling of water over stone

And the stirring in our hearts.

It sang of all those souls that had past this way,

The good, the bad, the happy and the sad and

Wrapped in each others arms

We wept of all of those long gone.

The spirit of the valley wept with us.

Then as the spirit sang a different song

Of hope, dreams and love.

Betty and I walked hand in hand

Through the valley

And found ourselves at home.

"Jimmy" James Robinson

Big Otter, West Virginia

15 February 2005