Rockville Road

soft sweep

of gentle hills

fallow fields

famished

for black seed

worked earth

glistening

in late rain

listening

to songs of

spring

as every

narrow

furrow

waits

(20 July 2013)

The Waiting

The fields are ready,
furrows made deep
for farmers’ prize seed.

Vineyards recede
into straight narrow lanes.
and twisted vines
in cruciform lines
conceal summer’s new wine.

They wait, well quenched
by winter’s rain.
Sweet tears
drench the ground with
baptismal springs,
and leafy green shade
will soon to spread
over orchard lanes.

We wait
as the moon, crescent mother
cradles her star-swollen belly,
and amorous crickets leap into the night
to sing her a waiting lullaby.

Spring Plowing

Deeply furrowed,

the wide field

lies in muddy chaos.

Smell the sweet clay

as it fills this cloudy spring day.

Earth’s dark womb

lies bare.

Gleaming plow,

efficient engine

sunder black skin of soil

to plant the seed

deep

beneath the future.

See how it will be.

On a warm, summer’s morn

static breast

will rise with deeper breath,

and muddy death

give way

to ascendant, golden day.

(2 March 2013)

Night Plows

lights glare, clouds rise, flare

in the night, blades split earth, fur-

rows before the storm.