The blog Appalachian History just posted a simple, sweet poem that I thought you all might appreciate. It is entitled "My Great Aunt Arizona." It was written by Gloria Houston, a teacher, about her great aunt, who was also a teacher. It begins like this:
My great-aunt Arizonawas born in a log cabin
her papa built
in the meadow
on Henson Creek
in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
When she was born,
the mailman rode
across the bridge
on his big bay horse
with a letter.
The letter was from her brother,
Galen, who was in the cavalry,
far away in the West.
The letter said,
“If the baby is a girl,
please name her Arizona,
and she will be beautiful,
like this land.”
To read the full version, click through, or even better, pick up a copy of it. The poem was published as a children's book with lovely illustrations by HarperColins in 1991.
