susanna anna sang the sky blue one day. wasn't even tryin. we all thanked her plenty after that. now no one even remembers what color it used to be. folks hear susanna anna singing mong the birch trees or walking down by the lake, along the footpaths, they say her song passes through the trees like spring rain.

i remember my mama telling me the first time she heard susanna anna sing. says she was climbing up on the tallest rock down there in dekanga valley, raced her three older brothers up the side and beat them all without a sweat, so came first to the sweet spot atop god’s good world. so proud up on that rock she stood and soaked up that sweet sun, just be being there all warm and solid self-like. suddenly she gets to hearing a certain song: susanna anna, riding in on the wind.

susanna anna comes to all the weddings and to all the funerals, too. we invite her in when it gets cold but mostly leave her be when its hot and musty out. susanna anna loves the sunshine and rolls round on the ground and cuts up her knees and laughs at the full sight of her blessings, laid out in fine little rows.

when my wife needs uplift, she calls susanna anna by name on our porch and the two sit out there for long hours, smoking pal malls through the backs of their teeth and drinkin cradles of coffee and when my wife comes back in she right as the rain again. thanks susanna anna.

susanna anna sang the sea green one day. we thanked her plenty for that too.