Do You See What I Hear--memories of the heart
“Nesting” Take Me Home Country Roads, John Denver
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
Growing up, John Denver’s music often accompanied my family in our car. This song makes me remember my childhood with nostalgia. It was a time of possibilities. Both of my children learned to play this song on the piano. When I hear the refrain, “Take me home, country roads”, I remember growing up in rural New Hampshire. I dreamed of spreading my wings and leaving the small town. Later, when creating my own family, I thought about what values and experiences from my childhood I wanted to carry forth or discard. My children have flown the nest, and it’s my hope that they will find their way home.
This piece, ultimately, is about creating a home and returning home. “Nesting” is imbued with symbolism: the nest, the tree bark dress, tattoos as arborglyphs. The sword on her back is pointing downward because she is finished fighting. There are no more battles to contend with, and she is at in her home.