"Evening with Iris"

Mandolin chords and female
alto rise to fall
with southern twang
and mountain twist.

They swirl and dance
in the grandest opry,
among wooden scents
and autumn breeze,

soothing this soul,
lifting this spirit
to childhood memories
of Methodist morns

with stained glass sun,
 four-part harmonies,
and choir sounds of,
"Lift me up and let me stand

on higher ground. "


First appearing in Pegasus, Summer 2006