Learn the Road

The power of man is hardly the first thing that comes to mind in the eye of a hurricane. As it flings and wrings Appalachia, of all places, in her hollers.

The power of man is nothing to resist the wind or hold off the water. Buildings and roads, possessions reduced to their feeble parts.

The power of man is tested, dared to enter the wreckage of defeat. But what of the souls left in the eerie, sunny silence.

The power of man.

Unwilling and unable to retreat from the echoes of the cries lost in the hollers. Leaving their mountain homes, ears tuned for dark and low places, quietly, they work.

The power of man, in the mountains they moved, to get to their brothers. And as always, they went back to their mountain homes, just thankful for supper.

The power of man is quiet, stubborn, honest, humble.

This time it built a road

And I’m so glad

They didn’t just learn to code.