With apologies to the late Mark Heard, I’ve given this post the title of one of my favorite songs, Appalachian Melody. It’s so sad when anyone dies young but we particularly miss those with exceptional talent. Mark was only 40 years old when he died in 1992 of a heart attack. I hum and sing this song to myself often, particularly at this time of year, of course. “How peculiar liking old dead leaves against the sky.” I do, because there is something more than meats the eye.
Actually, I think this photograph would make a really good jigsaw puzzle.
Appalachian melody drifting softly down
Instruments of gold and red and brown
You can read the rest of the lyrics to this song and to Mark Heard’s other songs on www.markheard.net.