she was born in the black hills
                    in a small cabin
                    her mama placed her lovingly
                    in a  wicker basket
                    she kicked her feet
                    screamed on the top of her lungs
                    and cooed for her mama
                    whose voice lulled her to sleep

                    as a small child her mama taught her
                    the songs of the black hills
                    she played the spoons
                    while her mama played the fiddle
                    she learned all the superstitions
                    her mama gave her amber beads
                    to wear around her neck
                    protecting her against illness

                    she knew never to place a hat on a bed
                    since it would bring bad luck
                    she carried an acorn to bring her luck
                    and ensure a long life
                    she knew if she saw a white moth in the house
                    it meant death
                    as she grew she yearned to learn more
                    about life and love
                    as a teenager she made love for the first time
                    in the woods under a huge elm tree
                    with a back woods boy
                    she felt his hot body
                    her head started to swim
                    as she wrapped her legs around him
                    and when it was over, she wept
                    one day she decided it was time to leave
                    taking a small suitcase
                    with the few clothes she owned
                    kissing her mama goodbye
                    setting off to follow her rainbow
                    her black hills’ ways followed her
                                                
                    she met many men on her travels
                    finally met the love of her life and settled down
                    she was pregnant when he said goodbye
                    when the time came for her child to be born
                    she went home to the black hills
                    gave birth in her mama’s house
                    placed her daughter in the wicker basket
                    the baby kicked her feet
                    screamed on the top of her lungs
                    and cooed for her mama
                    whose voice lulled her to sleep
                    she never again left the black hills
                    the city left her empty and disappointed
                    she remembered all the men and their promises
                    then she remembered the back woods’ boy
                    who made love to her under the huge elm tree
                    and how hot his body was and couldn’t remember
                    why she never wanted to see him again
                            
                    she taught her daughter the lessons of the black hills
                    hung a horseshoe over her bedroom door
                    so her child would not have any nightmares
                    she grew old and when she died in the black hills
                    before she was placed in her wood coffin
                    her daughter lovingly placed a new pair of shoes
                    on her feet for her long journey