It was nineteen eighty three
When I first heard you calling,
calling,
calling to me
Saying this is where I need to be
Your Southern lands
Beckoning and lending
To wonderful images of home,
home,
I am home.
I was only ten.
Eleven years later,
I was on my way
You opened your gates
So green,
green,
you were life to me
I drank you up
I craved such hospitality
But the tornado touched down
My world took on an Oz-like view
And I clicked my heels for rescue.
I was twenty-three.
Ten years later,
Your voice is stronger than ever,
I want to go back home
I am waiting,
waiting,
watching and waiting
will you unlock your Red door again
will you welcome me in
Embrace
embrace,
I need your embrace
A child looking for shelter,
I am thirty-three.
Like Moses I wander
Through the desert of mumbling
And complaining
I’m dreaming,
dreaming,
dreaming away
Lead me out of this barren land
Please don’t let me die before I get the chance
Tennessee – my Promise Land.
Author notes
Shawn Colvin has a song called Tennessee that has my favorite line ever, "You kissed the soul of a Rebel in a Yankee girl." The South gets in your blood and this Yankee can't wait to go back again.
Written June 4th, 2006
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Thank you granny! It is so good to hear from you. I've been so busy with school and work that I can't believe I acutally had time to write anything, but am so glad that this poem begged to be written. I'm happy you liked it.
-Stacee (ceenote) -
Home is where the heart is and I think you have yours in Tennessee. Sentiments well expressed in these lines - easy to read and understand. Like this poem.
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Sorry you had to leave Tennessee, but there is that old saying that I have tried to live by (somewhat unsuccessfully lately, now that it's getting closer to when I can leave CA), "Bloom where you're planted." I guess anywhere is a great place to be as long as we allow God to water us and be fruitful for Him in that place. So hopefully Indiana will be a bountiful place for you. Thanks for reading my poem.
-Stacee -
This is ironic, I just left Tennessee and moved back to Indiana. This was an excellent write. I did not want to leave but due to unforeseen circumstances had to. I wish i could say how much I loved your write but it is bad timing. How much different it would have been if I were still there. It is good but makes me sad. Thanks also for commenting on my Love House story about my little Kadia Dae and her imaginary bistro. New job, not much time. RC
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Thank you noble1 for stopping by to read. Always, great to hear from you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
-Stacee -
Stacee this was really neat...thanks for telling me that you wrote something new! I've only been to TN a couple of times...a yankee girl at heart and will always be. Maybe if the Lord would have brought me a southern guy it would be different, but alas, I love being a Yank! Great job on this write...hope you write some more soon!
Noble1 
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World Without Logos,
I think you should get to Tennessee at least once in your lifetime. If you read some of the other responses to this poem, you'll see I'm not the only one wooed by this wonderful state. Thanks so much for your comments.
-ceenotesongs -
Thank you so much Simply Bohemian for such wonderful words of response to my poem. I truly appreciate it from my heart, especially since it is such a dear topic to me.
-Stacee (ceenotesongs) -
I had to laugh when I read your response. As Americans, we probably don't even realize how the North South thing sounds to people from other countries. But I'll give you a little lowdown. The Southern states have mastered a kind of warm hospitality and general love towards others that you normally won't find elsewhere. And you don't understand it until you actually go there and experience it for yourself. I love California (where I live now), but I feel much more at home in the South. Okay, so that is kind of it in a nutshell. Thank you for your compliments.
-Stacee (ceenotesongs) -
Thank you Brian for taking time to check out my poem. I glad you think I represented the state well. She's in my heart and I will always long for her.
-Stacee (ceenotesongs) -
Thanks for the POSITIVELY AWESOME response to my poem. Maybe I will send it in to the tourism center. Wouldn't that be a kick! Great, you made my day Pollycheck.
-Stacee (ceenotesongs) -
Thank you Sherry for such kind words, and you are so lucky to be in TN! Someday, someday, I will make it back.
-Stacee (ceenotesongs) -
Thank you masterblaster for taking time to comment on my poem. It is greatly appreciated.
-ceenote -
Sidra Sabella,
Thank you for your kind words. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
-Stacee (ceenotesongs) -
Jeannie D,
No you can't beat the South. I have been telling everyone that for years but they never believed me. Now my in-law's, who went to TN on vacation last year, are going back in September to look into moving there. NOW they believe me! My husband is believing now too and he hasn't even been there yet! Thank you for your kind words. (NC is on my list of places to visit/possibly live by the way too!)
-Stacee (ceenotesongs) -
Azure85,
I love how often I get the whole musical comment about my stuff, whether I meant it to be a song or not. I just can't get away from it, but that's such a great compliment to me. Thank you.
Ceenote -
Ahhh, Nashville. Beautiful, I love the Waterfront. Got to go a few times while I was living in Memphis. That's actually why I was in TN. I was trying to make it in the music industry. Now I just want to go back because I loved it so much (wouldn't mind a songwriting contract though!) Thank you Angelwatchingme for taking time and giving in to your curiosity to read my poem.
-Stacee (ceenotesongs) -
Pancho, you SHOULD go to Tennessee ! Thanks for your comments.
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starAA02, how sweet you are with your adoration. Thank you a million times over.
-Ceenote -
Thank you Mairi bheag for such a great compliment, especially from someone who is a formalist. This one started coming to me last night and woke me up early this morning so I knew I had to write it since it basically wrote itself.
-ceenote -
Thank you La Luna Rosa for you kind comments. I appreciate it much!
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A beautiful, heartfelt piece. Makes you wanna go down to Tennessee! I love it. It's warm and happy, and kind of wistful.
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I truly appreciate your work,
This reading was even and flowing
Your love for Tennessee shows
And your lament so strong and even mournful at times that I found my self actually saying
“I hope you can get back home really soon and God’s speed”
The message was loud and clear with no drama or over used words.
The use of wording you used painted a definite imagery
The beat was fast and even and musical at times
A grand show of talent!
BRAVO!
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very good
although i do no tunderstand this north and south thing yo uamericans have i still enjoyed this write very much, thank you for sharing it with us and keep up the good work
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I have lived in Tennessee most of my life (except a year in Atlanta I would like to forget). This is a great tribute to a great state. People in other regions get a wrong idea about the state, but you've painted a wonder picture. Thank you for sharing.
Edited on Jun 04, 12:48 because ''. -
thumbs Up
I think that you should submit this to the Tennessee tourism center. They could use in their brochures to get people to come to their state. -
I absolutely love this.
I am from Tennessee and have lived here all of my life.
I wouldn't leave its green lush and simple beauty for all the gold in the world and beyond.
You have penned a lovely poem, and it touched this Tennessee girls heart very close to home.
Hope you make it to the promised land soon now, ya hear!?
All my best wishes,
~Sherry~
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Hi I remember it well and can understand your wanting to go back, I am sure you will, when we won't something that badly we will find a way, loved the poem, all the bet, hugs Di
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a beautiful homesick peice refelcting what your heart desires most. i love it^_^
~miss sidra sibella -
We southerners do know how to be hospitable! Come on back now ya heera? Great poem. I am from NC. You just can't beat the south. Thank you for sharing. Jeannie D Hunter
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Oh, may you be there one day in the beautiful land! And your poem is so lyrical it should be set to music, I can hear the guitar softly playing as I read it.
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I clicked on your poem because I was curious, but I am glad that I did. In 2002, I left my home of Atlanta, Ga and Moved to Memphis Tn. I was under Tennesee's spell. Then in 2004, I moved back to GA, but things didn't feel the same. When I moved to Denver and finally got the chance to come back to Tn, I jumped on the chance. I now live in MUSIC City, USA., or Nashville.
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This was wonderful! Makes me want to go to Tennessee,lol
. I can definitely relate to finding somewhere you know is home, but not being able to stay...it's awful...So I hope you can get back there!
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very nice i suggest u keep on writing and i adore this poem it is long and it says it all i wonder everyday how u write such great poems please write some more poems cuz i love the way u write and i adore reading them.
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There are times when free verse just WORKS (as opposed to the many times it doesn't - can you tell I'm a formalist writer?). This time it WORKS. The wonderful thing is that I have absolutely no idea why. Congratulations - there is obviously something organic here, and I have simply accepted it as I would a growing plant.
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Bravo.
I love the flowing form, and the wonderful connections. Your words are full of emotion that ignites the heart and soul of the reader. -
Thank you so much for your wonderful words and applause. I truly hope I get back to TN sometime soon. My husband is going into the FBI and we will have to go wherever they send us, but we are going to put in for Knoxville and hopefully they will oblige. I have a friend who hails from Geraldine, AL!
Thank you again,
Stacee (ceenotesongs) -
Love it!!
I am from very Northern Alabama and would welcome you back anyday!!! I can cross the TN line in about 15 minutes. The hills of TN seep into your soul and remain forever. And there is no place like TN! Your write describes that feeling so well. The beauty, and peace within the lovely hills were dancing within your words. Such a nice poem. You are a country girl at heart!!!! Come home. Blessings! Tammy
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