From cushioned seat...
I watch the battle-fought treasure of rich dark soils rush by,
Endless acres of life sustaining grains stretching up to thank
The sun as she stoops and spreads her bounty
Freeing the spirit of growth.
In the distance first glint of gold.
Dotted here and there...
The softly rounded outline of one, maybe two, horned cows
lazily breaks horizon.
Sleek pelts swirling with colours of chocolate.
Slow dedicated farmer guides from the rear with wave of kerchief from sweaty brow,
Until they reach thigh deep grass on which beasts feast.
Birds swoop from cobalt skies....
Beaks open wide to capture life sustaining nourishment, hovering...
Over slow rivers
lugubriously tunneling their way into dark velvet soil.
Feeding willows who weep soft tears of green on top of the cool clear water,
Lined with new spears of bulrushes forming picket fence
For speckled trout swimming noiselessly,
Tracing ancient paths through dappled depths.
Here...
An avenue of Monet's pines struts through fields,
Haughtily nodding to groups of gossiping crabapple,
Until forcefully stopped by road block of chestnut.
There...
Linden trees stroll distractedly behind
Doffing crowns of butter blooms
Filling air with honeyed fragrance and leaving dusty confetti in their wake.
Speeding past...
Seemingly empty cottages clad in corrugated steel and crumbling concrete,
Stumbling next to the asphalt;
Rubbing shoulders with noble patterns of brick.
Guarded by colourful arrows of iris and boughs which bend to breaking under an abundance of scarlet cherries
As far as the eye can see nature speaks life.
But...
In the shadows
Daisies cluster with McCrae's poppies in the safety of the ditches
Whispering news to be carried by frail butterflies to those who wait.
In the distance....
The shimmer of golden domes hints at prayers raised in hope and faith.
Sung liturgies stretch across the hours
Watched over by golden icons in a field of blue
Measured only by the pendulum of sweet incense rising in supplication.
Scarved women cross trembling chests through spikes of pain
Approaching fresh mounds of coffee coloured soil
Embracing flowers that will be watered by tears alone.
Life must defy the storm clouds mounting at the border - God let it be so.
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