Thursday, May 10, 2012

EARTH ~








This small palm-size book is about to leave our bookshop this morning ~ but before it does, I've sat out of the rain with it and much enjoyed its company. Here are a handful of poems.

The book is dedicated ~
For my mother and the memory of my father, who farmed as long as they could.





field of oat shocks,

my childhood hiding

under golden tents









a red rooster feather

in an old straw hat —

how that boy struts!









what a welcome sight —

tractor ruts in the barnyard

filling with rain









walking the fenceline —

a path of cow droppings leads

to the broken wire









unloading oats —

an old grasshopper jumps

-----out of my shovel









first ice rimming

the stock-tank,

the last bullhead belly-up









calf's tongue

stroking my hand

before the fire


___________

from The Furrow's Edge
Farm Haiku
Edward J. Rielly
Juniper Press, 1987





Longhouse Bookstore:
http://www.longhousepoetry.com