Ash Groves

Ash Groves “Down yonder green valley where streamlets meander When twilight is fading I pensively rove, Or at the bright noontide in solitude wander Amid the dark shades of the lonely Ash Grove. ‘Tis there where the blackbird is cheerfully singing, Each warbler enchants with his note from the tree, Ah, then little I think of sorrow or sadness, The Ash Grove enchanting spells beauty for me.” Wales to me, Though stranger to my step, Like the Ash groves on rolling mountains Blackbirds warble - long days of summer’s smile; A pensive rover with my Welsh companions Of Corgi’s, wily terriers About my feet; Honoring a Red Dragon, in this land of song Where songs bequeathed to my heart - Sung before my time - left for me sing; In lyrics of canaries free of cages Rising up from deep shafts of dark coal Sing out their freedom; Still heard in voyages ‘cross the Celtic Sea – Pensive legends of home ‘Cross turbulent oceans;– Finding rolling mountains to climb Upon Liberty’s broad wings To Ash groves of white and blue; Ne’er forgetting Rock Rose or Snowden Lily The Red Kite soaring High up in Welsh hearts; No more to pensively roam Through new ash groves of freedom In this new land of song - New land of song. “The ash grove, how graceful how plainly ‘tis speaking The harp thro’ it playing has language for me… The Ash Grove alone is my home.” Based on the Welsh folk song “Ash Grove.” Song form AABAABA Part of my family came from Wales to Kentucky and Tennessee in the 1800’s. Their last name was Henderson. 7-2-20