Love Song for a Pennsylvania Girl

Oct. 24, 2012

Love Song for a Pennsylvania Girl

Before I drift to sleep tonight,
     I'll tell you 'bout a girl,
the Pennsylvania girl.
There the wind runs cool
     over the mountain roads,
          sighing over the snow covered hills,
               whispering in the firs,
a deep breathing kind of air,
      filling the lungs with grey skies.

That air was first to give her life,
     the Pennsylvania girl,
Taught her fast
      the strength of the North,
Taught her the taste
     of good earth on her tongue.

You can see it in her eyes,
     the cold,
see the struggle to survive,
     unbreakable grey-blue eyes
          to freeze you fast,
               command you still
                    before her.

I've never seen her home,
     the Pennsylvania girl,
But I see her strolling 'twixt the trees,
     pushing aside snow laden limbs,
Her body
     cloaked in fur and denim,
Warming up the forest with a smile,
Hair collecting snowflakes,
     anointing her in frost,
          glowing heavenly white.

I left her on a porch.
The Greeks would build her temples,
     and I left her on a porch,
          turned her into a memory,
     my favorite dream,
the Pennsylvania girl.