Father of the Land

Red brown skin, so much that

I thought he was Native American as a child. 

In truth, he was, native to the very soil he stood on,

that he overturned, picked up in his strong hands and

broke into smaller chunks. Black soil. Rich for life.

Birds flying above waited for all the worms

his turning exposed for them. The very wind they

dipped and dropped down through, to land and

peck at the earth, tousled his dark hair, some thin grey

peeking out from under his dirty cap. 

And he smiled. 

I think we all have that smile, us kids.

Certainly have the mind behind it,

the appreciation of time and earth and

life. The joy of living and family. Of sun and

wind and blue sky over a hayfield tractor tires pressed into. 

I am instantly brought back to the farm anytime I smell cut hay, 

whether it's on the side of the road interstate,

or someone's shipping a box of timothy seed

passing under my hands at work. I have to pause

as I am moved inside, the mind and body wanting to

stay with the imagery, the feeling.

And work. Always. Always the effort of movement

regardless of fatigue or our child desires. The passing 

through this life under his, under our, own power.

Making our mark on this world. 

It is our gift from him, making us leave our footprints in a

field of fresh cut hay. To touch kindly an animal whose eyes were 

often attached to their bellies. Our kindness, his, over their soft fur.

Thoughts of connection playing out under stroking fingertip. 

Names given that defined character: Chief, Tricky, Susie, Pebbles…

He helped us find character. Nine siblings �" characters all �" 

tied to the land, to the father of the land. 

We move forward. Doing the work of life each day.

I see my sister across from me and know we have that

deep connection to him. Her smile, her stubbornness,

her wit is mine. We connect to the land dad loved with his 

children. We are strong. And sometimes sadly we step

day to day, with a kitty nudging our legs, and we remember.

Reviews

[Laminators Dubai]

its not just fatherly but the love for everything we have.....we remember...

another magnificent write.^^