a tale of tails, tenacity, and tedium, as told by me, usually barefoot and bellowing

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Land of Our Own


Row after row
turning, plowing, and planting
growing, cutting and harvesting
opening the land
of milk and honey

We tire of battling
the elements dressed
in thin simple clothes
but we store our tears
until darkness falls

The dinner bell rings
calling us home
in level tones
grateful for freedom 
we speak Latin no more

Without intending this became a double prompt for Sunday's Whirligig and Flash 55 Plus at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads.  I used the words with the picture for inspiration while finishing with 55 words exactly.  I forgot the touch of Zen but some reach that moment working with the land.

27 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i think you did very well!

Sanaa Rizvi said...

This is so heart-warming..! Loved the beautiful depiction of life on farm!
xoxo

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Lovely! It reads so naturally, not as if you had to fit in all those random words.

Susan said...

I enjoyed this poem and its message despite a few oddities forced by vocab (eg, thin clothes). I agree with you that some would find this earth connection a preparation for Zen.

brudberg said...

A good message now in time of spring.

MadSnapper said...

i love this one and the story it tells

Misky said...

A wonderfully earthy poem.

Anonymous said...

Nice tribute to our pioneer ancestors.

Kerry O'Connor said...

An excellent use of the word selection. I found the second stanza to be quite in keeping with Zen principles.

Gill - That British Woman said...

that poem made sense to me and was very visual.

LilliStJohn said...

You are really good at this getting a buncha words and making a poem. That all fitted nicely. Well done. Got your note, truly happy that M was happy and delighted. Aren't surprises fun lol

Lynne said...

Flowing like the River . . .
Very good . . .

Outlawyer said...

Hi Gail--I felt that you were writing back of times in the wilderness here--escaping Roman centurions. Thanks.k.

Anonymous said...

Excellent, my friend. This one really moved me. Well done.

LindaG said...

Now that is an old, scary looking piece of equipment.

Good poem, too!

Hope you all have a blessed day!

De Jackson said...

Love the idea of storing tears, especially...

Mr. Walker said...

That second stanza is powerful. I didn't consider using the image that went with the whirligig words - nicely done.

Susie Clevenger said...

I so admire farmers. I grew up surrounded by farms. The local farmer is an unsung hero.

Truedessa said...

Opening the land of milk and honey there is promise in that..working the land fighting natural elements..storing tears..I think you have woven a story many can relate to.

Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP) said...

"opening the land of milk and honey" wonderful earthy poem in all ways :)

christopher said...

Simple yet creative...nice post.

Lowcarb team member said...

I love this - especially the story it tells.

"The Dinner Bell Rings Calling Us Home"

... after a very busy day.

All the best Jan

Jim said...

I've been there too, Gail! My dad would replant sometimes when my corn rows were too crooked. Neither of us were happy then.
..

Peggy said...

This is lovely Gail. Drew me in. I love seeing where poets go with the same 12 words. Each so unique.

humbird said...

Love the 'love to earth' attitude in the poem and 'gratitude for freedom'.

ZQ said...

haha well done. Sounds right :-)
ZQ

21 Wits said...

Cool, you blew this right out of the park! Bravo.

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