seems I've been getting back to the land starting out this 2005


scarecrow
© 2005 john voorpostel


summer burned the fields lying fallow and unfurrowed
where the scarecrow stood alone looking meagre almost hollow
I held a dandelion up and waited for the wind
like once upon a time waiting for the rain again


in deepest darkest winter there's a tiny living thing
for the scarecrow to look after during longer days of spring
it will fight the dandelion and the nascent quarterfoil
like once upon a time when I gardened in this soil


now cultivating gardens seems a children's fantasy
while the scarecrow stands alone tattered burning in this heat
the lonely dandelion waits and watches for a friend
like once upon a time waiting for the world to end


I'm sure the dandelion sighs and tries to tell the wind
scarecrow's hope is virtue while our anger is the sin
having learned the lesson I embrace it and I'm sure
that once upon a time will come around to me once more

If writing ever becomes work I think I'm going to have to stop