Life and death in the piney woods |
----by Dan J. McDonald Let me hear the wind in the pines Voices of history, voices of mystery Let me hear the wind in the pines Through the seasons, through the years Through the laughter, through the tears Through the triumphs, through the fears Let me hear the wind in the pines Chained to this land by blood and birth Made whole when standing on this good earth I know the strength of roots grown deep Which span all worlds their claims to keep Let me hear the wind in the pines I stand alone on hallowed ground Much was lost here, much was found Battles were fought here, man-to-man Heroes died here, cowards ran Let me hear the wind in the pines In the graveyard in the morning With Sun announcing new day's borning I kneel in humble awe and wonder As simple stones give cause to ponder Let me hear the wind in the pines But date-dash-date in simple stone Cannot contain these lives unknown Lives which grace no scholar's text As the world moves on, concerned with next Let me hear the wind in the pines. Now I hear a cry for justice From one who justice never knew Now I hear a plea for mercy From one whose mercies were but few Let me hear the wind in the pines Ride the wind, you gentle spirits! Raise your voices loud and long Ride the wind, you gentle spirits! Grant the weak may be made strong Let me hear the wind in the pines Let me hear you tell your stories Of struggles, failures, joyous glories Let not your voice be stilled in death But ride the wind and give it breath Let me hear the wind in the pines Let not your causes simply fade Let others build on what you've made Let not your hopes and dreams be lost While others wait to pay the cost Let me hear the wind in the pines On gentlest breeze, in howling gale Never cease to tell your tale And when I silenced be at last As present moves me into past Let me hear the wind in the pines Let me be the wind in the pines Voices of history, voices of mystery The wind in the pines Let me hear |