MURRAY COUNTY POETRYPoems by Murray Poets and Poems About Murray County The Land of the Cherokee Ernest Neal Poet Laureate of Georgia Poem read at dedication of the New Echota Monument, 1931 Have you heard of the land of the Cherokees. With its wonderful streams and beautiful trees? Of its flowers abloom, and the wild perfume That floats like a dream on the evening breeze? Have you heard of Echota, the capital town. And the brave old chief with featherly crown? Of the warrior band and the pow-wow grand In the light of the moon when the sun goes down? Far away in the past this quaint land lies. And around it the mists obscure arise: It is only in dreams we may hear the shrill screams Of its eagles afloat in their native skies. But its rivers glide on in rhythmical flow Through fields of today, from a weird long-ago The cold Chickamauga, the slow Conasauga, Like their musical names, gurgle soft and low. From the gold-bearing hills comes the rich Chestatee, Through the mountains to the north breaks the Hiawassee, And the romping Ellijay joins the bouncing Cartekay To frolic in the rapids of the Coosawattee. h the laughing of the ripples of the sweet Salacoa. In the tailing of the current of the silvery Toccoa, In the roarings of Tallulah, and the splashings of Yahoola Are the wild and varied volumes of a never-written lore. And we listen to the song of the sad Etowah; In his voice is a sob, a refrain from afar. While the rough Chattahoochee makes love to Nacoochee In the shade of the Vale of The Evening Star. Than the moans of Oostanaula no dirge can sadder be. For he heard the parting groans of the banished Cherokee. Thus in music shall roll the Indian's proud soul As long as his rivers flow into the sea. Murray County Poetry
Murray County Poetry