The Mountains, They Sing

a poem for my mountains and my people, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene

Photo by Sean Foster on Unsplash

The mountains 
They sing
Songs of untold sorrow
And the merciless sting of death
Bodies washed clean
In the dirty flood waters 
Oh, the mountains 
The mountains 
They sing 

The mountains 
They sing 
Soft ridges
And hard water
Wails of despair 
Echoing in jagged hollers
The notes of loss
Wretched and innumerable
Oh, the mountains 
The mountains 
They sing 

The mountains 
They sing
Anguish on display
In misty melodies
The whispering woods
Crying out in grief 
Of life and love
Carried away
Oh, the mountains 
The mountains 
They sing 

The mountains
They sing
Of isolation and misery 
Carved out in a moment
Piercing deep ravines 
Flowing through Appalachian hearts 
Mud covering moss-carpeted floors
In meadows of agony 
Oh, the mountains
The mountains
They sing 

The mountains 
They sing
Of winding streams 
And serene slopes 
Spiraling into deluge
Rushing down valleys
Turning on corners 
That feel like pangs
Of wretched heartache 
For my home 
Oh, the mountains
The mountains 
They sing 

The mountains 
They sing 
Of sovereign grace 
In the grief 
Of endless mercy 
In the mess 
Of God moving 
In the midst
A song of helpers
Rising higher
A song of bearing 
With one another  
Hand in hand
Neighbor to neighbor
And wading 
Through the timbre 
Of desolation
A Light shines
Breaking through 
Voices rise
Appalachia Strong
And the mountains
Oh, the mountains
They sing 
                    --Anna--

______________________________________________________

Friends,

I am from Northeast Tennessee, and though we’ve lived in North Carolina for five years now, my heart is still in those beautiful Appalachian mountains. It’s been devastating to see my people and my mountains ravaged by Hurricane Helene. Lives and livelihoods were washed away in an instant. Thousands are still missing, and the body count keeps growing. East TN and Western NC are often overlooked places, and so I must ask you to take a moment to look. To see your neighbors, and consider donating to help people make it through this difficult time.

If you are able to give time, money, or supplies, please consider donating to local organizations that are helping people.

To support Western North Carolina, consider a donation to Samaritan's Purse. It’s an incredible organization that is on the ground in NC giving out supplies, caring for people, and setting up clean water drinking systems in Western North Carolina. Some parts of NC are still very difficult to reach, and many people are without basic food, water, hygiene products, etc.

If you want to support East Tennessee, consider a donation to East Tennessee Foundation which is helpful in both long term and short term disaster relief in 8 counties in East Tennessee that are without basic necessities.

Another great organization that is helping in the 8 states affected by Hurricane Helene is Convoy Of Hope, bringing supplies and aid to many communities. Our church partners with Convoy of Hope throughout the year, but especially in light of the devastation of Hurricane Helene.

I pray that if you, or anyone you know, was affected by Hurricane Helene, that you are able to access healing and peace in Jesus Christ. God sees you, and you are not alone. God is with you, and so are we.

God bless you and keep you,

Anna Williams