bottomland

You must fast, the stranger said; otherwise we see you but you do not
see us. Our land is not altogether like yours. Here is constant
fighting, sickness, foes wherever you turn. And soon a stronger
enemy than you have yet faced will come and take your contry away
from you and leave you exiles. But there we have peace. And though
we die as all men do and must struggle for our food, we need not
think of danger. Our minds are not filled with fear. We do not
endlessly contend with each other. I come to invite you to live with
us. Your place is ready. There is room for all of you. But if you
are to come, everyone must first go into the town house and fast
seven days and never leave during that time and never raise the war
cry. When that is done, climb to the Shining Rocks and they will
open as a door and you may enter our country and live with us.

On the morning of the seventh day the people began climbing Cold
Mountain toward the Shining Rocks. They arrived just at sunset. The
rocks were white as snowdrift, and when the people stood before them,
a cave opened like a door, and it ran to the heart of the mountain.
But inside was light rather than dark. In the distance, inside the
mountain, they could see an open country. A river. Rich bottomland.
Broad fields of corn. A valley town, the houses in long rows, a town
house atop a pyramidal mount, people in the square ground dancing.
The faint sound of drums.

- charles frazier



was a five band bill
two dollar show
saw the van out in front
from idaho
and the girl passed out
in the backseat trash
and there was no way they'd make
even a half a tank of gas

they looked sick and stoned
and strangely dressed
and no one showed
from the local press
but i watched them walk
through the bottomland
and i wished i played
in a rock & roll band

- gillian welch



http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z&n915258&e30794&size=m
http://lab404.com/dreams/memory/julie/shining.jpg
http://lab404.com/misc/black_balsam_knob.html

_
_
_