His words have been bundled up
and kind ones have fallen
like chaff through the cracks between knots.
I can not unravel these miles of bales
and barnyards full of old machinery
to find that exact place
that holds what was most dear to me.
Perhaps the wind has blown them east,
as far as the prairie has rolled out its dry tongue;
greedy-mouthed seed hungry harvester that it is
gnawing and tucking them away
in little coulees and sunken boggy areas
where they are swallowed down with spring water.
Where are those labels, nicknames,
endearments that filled me like earth’s breasty
green summer crops bulging in the granaries?
Oh, if only I had thought to take better care;
weighed them by bushel, kilo, tonne,
and translated them into numbers
or codes, or paintings on old barn wood,
had him sign them, had them witnessed
as proof of his kindness, his love, his respect,
if there was any to be kept.
I am left with straw chaffing at my skin
like little chiggers that leave an itch
and I bleed over and over again
because I am always digging at them
like a farmer who tries, again,
and again, to get a good crop.
A contest entry
- Proudly Presenting: ROUND 1 by Walk-Free.
1000 points, ended August 31, 2008, 78 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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wow wow wow!
i'm blown away by this poem! it was such a gentle write... and your words painted such a gorgeous picture in mind! and even though this piece was quite lengthy (a lil actually), i still think this is beautiful! and you were able to capture my attention and make me read on!
~beauty of silence
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My Muse isn't done until my Muse is done.... I have written a 1000 line poem twice for contests that required such. So, when she gets on a roll, she rolls.
My, this is not long at all.
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wow
The imagery here is beautfil and I love that it was taken back to a rural area. I love farms and living the simple lifestyle where there were more pressing issues than too little make-up.
The last stanza was very nice about learning and life as it comes. beautiful entry. good luck in the contest!!
transit~
♥
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ty for your kind comments.
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wow. this is such an amazing write...the imagery, feeling were captured so well. I don't know what to say; except that this is definitely a piece I cannot forget. your words are simple, honest, beautiful and deep. && your style is just awesome.
i loved this so very much.
&& here are good lucks to you from all of us!! thank you for entering this awesome piece.
-checkmate♥
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ty checkmate.
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Sigh...you write the images better than anyone, I see it like a movie in my head
Love, C
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I coudl use a good movie... lol ty my friend.
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Excellent poem (but I woudn't expect anything less from you)!
Good Luck in this contest!
Maureen
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ty maureen, what a kind thing to say.
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