Arcola, central Illinois




Postcard From Amish Country

 

 

 

In a pasture two matched Belgian mares

Who spring, summer and fall had pulled

Plow and harrow, harvester and hayrake

Are free now of their harness and traces,

Cropping the last of the fescue and the first

Cutting of the alfalfa and timothy hay, the

Great muscles of flanks and withers, not yet

In winter coat, rippling in the late dusk light

And the cold wind now crossing empty fields.

Nearing night and someone in the barn lights

A lamp in the doorway and calls us home.

 





Poetry by countryfog
Read 1197 times
Written on 2015-10-02 at 14:01

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Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
Beautiful animals described so well. You always bring these things to life so well with your writing. The problem is that these days the lantern is probably an LED battery torch.
2015-10-07



This is tremendously transportive, my friend :-)
We have little experience of horses at BBP, but we think them very beautiful animals in all their different breeds. It's lovely to watch these majestic mares for a while and testament to your talent for description that I can hear them chomping their grasses and making an occasional 'harrrumph'-ing sound (that mightn't be strictly accurate; apologies!).
The contrast between fading winter light and the sudden appearance of light from the barn ends the poem with a cosy warmth. All at BBP applaud, warmly, together :-) :>)
2015-10-06



Wandsworth and Hardy come to my mind when reading this:)
Truly delicious in imagery and atmosphere.
2015-10-06


Peter Humphreys The PoetBay support member heart!
This is a beautifully evocative poem. It places you there. You can hear, see the animals in mind's eye. The inevitability of winter, the sense of inevitable time as it passes almost unnoticed, creeping upon us as night falls. I really enjoyed being transported to Amish country. Peter
2015-10-06


Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
A nice poem from the start with a fun little twist at the end.
2015-10-02



I do enjoy observing the Amish way of life. It seems so tranquil and purposeful. A lovely write that brought memories. When I lived in Michigan, there were many Amish communities and their simple white, two story houses, with the two unpainted pillars in front looked so simple and neat.
2015-10-02