behind my head
hanging midway in the
western sky
the sun smothers
stubbly remains
of corn stalks
in autumn light
poking up their
short remains
amongst the tilled
brown soil
stitching a patchwork
quilt of nature
death and birth
a solitary combine
slowly rolls down
a county lane
after a day’s labor
dust hazing up like
flecks of gold
in the sun’s rays
one-quarter mile north,
swarms of cars
trouble over themselves
just past the
speed of safety
on the flat
featureless
interstate pavement
the motorists’ circuit
keeps them close enough
to the landscape
to enjoy broad-scape
textures of life
without the bothersome
encumbrances of it –
rocks in the furrows,
unyielding sun
cracking the ground,
cow manure stuck
in a boot tread
when will we realize
we were made
to touch the earth?
21 October 2007 – Port Byron, IL
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Matthew Erickson 
Thank you for sharing that beautiful word painting! Well, ‘cept for the cow poop part. ;-D
But seriously, I enjoy and envy your writing talent.
Thanks for the kind words, Shelley. I laughed about your ‘cow poop’ comment. Growing up in farm country I just take that as part of the natural landscape. 🙂
Matt – This is a good reminder for me to get out and “touch the earth.” I think I need to make this a discipline, just as I’m learning the discipline of gratitude.
Thanks for reading it, Kevin. I can relate to learning the discipline of gratitude right now. It’s too easy to take so many things for granted and focus on the negative. God is re-teaching me to say ‘thank you’ for all He does, including a beautiful world.