"Home" in 10 Words or Less

[Butte Silver Bow Public Library]

The essence of place—and the social qualities that connect its past, present and future—have been the subject of two recent Montana projects (each supported in part by Humanities Montana): Butte, America, the documentary film by Pamela Roberts, and the Butte Digital Film Project, sponsored by the Butte Silver Bow Public Library.

Here we challenge members of the Roundtable to capture the essence of their own hometowns—but with brevity! Ten words or less.

[Lee Phillips]

In ten words or less... "I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree..."

Home is something we carry with us in our hearts, as Yeats so eloquently addresses in the poem, "The Lake Isle of Innisfree". The link will take you to a page to hear the poem read by W. B. Yeats himself. I have been to Innisfree and have seen what Yeats so loved; a beautiful lake full of magical islands. As so many emigrants know you can take home with you in your heart but it still leaves a longing to taste and touch it again, that never fades.

[Clair Leonard]

The history of Ireland throughout the ages is one of emigration; Eire's finest export, its youth. This trend took a brief turn around when the Celtic Tiger came to play, and we saw some serious imigration for a relatively short time period (in historical terms). It will be interesting to follow these trends to see if the Irish again resort to "the boat," as a means of survival. Global economic turmoil, complicates the emigration escape. I'll have to start reading the Irish papers and do some research to see what the story is on that front.

[Sid Gustafson]

My ten words regarding the Two Medicine River Valley coursing through the middle of the Blackfeet Indian Nation; Rocky Mountain foothill ranch country I grew up riding unfenced grasslands with the Indians:

"Best way to make ends meet was grazing cattle horseback"

To Brevity,
sid

[Kim Anderson]

Missoula evening, our front porch, Neil and wine and friends.

[Craig Lancaster]

My hometown, North Richland Hills, Texas:

"Strip malls swallow pasture and vomit up parking lots."

Where I live now, Billings, I sometimes might be tempted to say the same thing.

[Joe Hutton]

Hi, I'm new here but I felt that you might enjoy my mother's poem:

A Little Bit of Land

A little bit of land is all I ask.
Just a small place to call my own,
Where I can put down root, so deep, so deep,
That great-grandchildren will still call it home.

Is it so much to ask? A lane of trees,
Bringing birdsong and colored leaves,
A grape arbor, the roses beyond,
Sweet lilacs, holding in their arms, the lawn...

Tulips and yellow daffodil,
Spattered up and down the cedar hill,
Sweet gurgling brook, fresh and cool,
The brush beyond, sheltering grouse
And sage, and shy, sweet deer.

Oh aching heart, hungry, hungry soul,
What little bit to make a grateful whole.

Is there no spot in all this Universe?
A little valley, with a cabin home,
A bit of garden I can call my own...

I would not bruise the land, or tear it apart,
But keep it beating with a happy, blooming heart.
Each bit of soil, which God had surely blessed,
Would be a cozy home for seeds to rest...

And grow and nourish, comforting all men,
With fruit and shade, and food for every soul.
A little bit of land, to call my own,
Within its small confines, a loving home...

And fertile soil, no matter the toil,
I would so grateful be, if God
Would take a little chance on me,
And give me a small plot of lonely sod
That needs a gentle hand, and God.

(By Jennie Senrud Hutton)

[Lee Phillips]

Joe
What a lovely poem. The sentiment rings true in my heart's chamber. I was silently schooled on the importance of a small plot to call one's own. Thank you for sharing.

[Jason Neal]

"Watch out for bighorns on way home from bar."

[Kim Anderson]

Or just spend the night at the bar.

Best Montana Home "haiku" yet, jason.

[Lisa Simon]

Fog, sleet, icy bridges...damn the distance between Missoula and Alberton.

[Addrien Marx]

Seeley Lake: "Rugged timber town, beautiful recreation destination, diverse and alive."

[Karen Hutton]

Homeless and abandoned.  Shelters we have lived in starting over from scratch, dreams shattered left with the gift of debt and divorce papers from the only man I ever loved.  If only my now Ex loved and wanted us, hence, thrown out like yesterdays trash.  Thanks Joe Hutton for letting us know the truth and yes, love your Mom's poem, thanks for sharing.  We continue to pray asking God for guidance, waiting for a little place to call home again.  God will answer my prayer and I will remarry someday to be a whole family, not a broken one.