THE VERDE RIVER IS HOME TO ME
Written by Billie J. Helm May 2009
GREW UP NEXT TO THE VERDE RIVER
FROM THE TIME I WAS THREE, SO THE
VERDE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOME TO ME.
WINDING THROUGH THE VALLEY SHE FLOWS
SO FREE - GIVING LIFE TO EVERYTHING
AROUND HER THE WAY GOD WANTS IT TO BE.
AS A CHILD, PLAYED ALONG HER BANKS
CAUGHT FISH AND TURTLES, SWAM AND
LAYED OUT IN THE SUN - THIS WAS MY FUN.
GAVE CATTAILS AS GIFTS WHEN THEY WERE
PAINTED AND DRIED. WATCHED THE CLOUDS AS
THEY ROLLED BY - DREAMED OF THE FUTURE,
LAUGHED AND CRIED. CAME HERE FOR COMFORT
WHEN A PET OR LOVED ONE DIED. NOW YOU CAN
SEE - WHY THE VERDE RIVER HAS ALWAYS
BEEN HOME TO ME.
AS A TEENAGER, RODE INNER TUBES DOWN
HER MIDDLE, WALKED ALONG HER SHORES,
BURNED CAMPFIRE COALS FOR HOTDOGS AND
S’MORES, TALKED AND SANG WITH FRIENDS
AS WE WATCHED THE MOON AND STARS.
LISTENED TO THE BULL FROGS AS THEY SANG
THEIR SONGS WITH GLEE. THIS ALSO MADE THE
VERDE RIVER HOME TO ME.
AS THE VERDE RIVER WINDS THROUGH
THE CANYONS AND IS FED BY NATURAL SPRINGS
AS SHE ROLLS ALONG - THE TREES, GRASS,
FLOWERS, BIRDS, WILDLIFE, AND PEOPLE OF
THE VALLEYS TO HER SOUL BELONG.
LISTEN TO HER STORY AS IT IS TOLD IN
THE WORDS OF A STORY OR SONG.
THE VERDE RIVER IS THE LIFE BLOOD OF
CENTRAL ARIZONA AND FOR THIS VERY REASON
HER USE MUST BE PROJECTED. SHE CAN BE
ENJOYED BUT HER RIBBON OF LIFE MUST
BE PROTECTED. SHE’S THE LAST OF HER KIND,
ANOTHER LIKE HER YOU WILL NOT FIND.
SHE MUST BE USED ONLY AS GOD HAD IN MIND.
AND THEN YOU’LL SEE, THE RIVER
THROUGH OUT THE VERDE VALLEY WILL
ALWAYS BE HOME TO YOU AND ME!
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