26 Jun 2025
by lynn__
in rhyming verse
Tags: death, faithful, family, farmer, God, wife, work
A eulogy for our friend, Harlan Kooima, who died in farm accident while loading cattle…
______________
A farmer is a man with simple needs
who learns to follow weather in the skies
he watches corn grow tall from kerneled seeds
enjoys his morning coffee with the guys.
His wife beside him, faithful thru the years
she was his only chosen, youthful bride
and tho’ their troubles sometimes caused her tears
she listened to his stories, saved his pride.
They raised two lovely daughters, three strong sons
took them to church and taught them of God’s love
life on the farm made hard work seem like fun
grown green with rain and sunshine from above.
This farmer’s sudden passing came too soon
we’ll miss his presence here, his smiling eyes
he now whistles some bright celestial tune…
we trust God’s grace to keep us all our lives.
24 May 2018
by lynn__
in tanka
Tags: farmer, finances, lovers, moonlight, steers, wife
farmer at salebarn
hoping steers go for good price
wife at home pays bills
has daily-ness forgotten
the nights as moonlight lovers?
Tanka for MLMM & Chevrefeuille’s “heeding haiku” prompt: moonlight lovers
09 May 2018
by lynn__
in shadorma
Tags: farmer, horse, team, work
Rambling of a Writer prompt (work & horse) in shadorma form (3-5-3-3-7-5).
red horse barn
farmer who lived large
worked his team
draft belgians
cutting hay, riding parade
black and silver tack
In memory of Rus V.Z. and Harold V.K. (Image from trustworkz.com)
23 Apr 2018
by lynn__
in senryu
Tags: apprentice, farmer, learn, sons, Teacher, work
“One bun” (one line haibun) written for CDHK on “apprentice” theme.
I taught our sons how to learn and my husband taught them how to work.
apprenticed five sons
teacher married a farmer
schooling family style
10 Apr 2018
by lynn__
in cinquain
Tags: calving, farmer, midwife, pain, push, spring
A cinquain is a five line poem with first line as title and final line restates it. Syllable count: 2-4-6-8-2.
calving
farmer midwife
gets up at night to check
first time heifers need help birthing
spring push
photo by lynn
02 Jul 2017
by lynn__
in haiku
Tags: camping, farmer, garden, lake, river
farmer mowing grass
nesting killdeer scold and swoop
wild roses blush pink
* * *
humidity soars
spirals of corn reaching up
thunder rumbles rain
* * *
smell of fresh cut hay
cattle swishing tails at flies
farm wife hoes garden
* * *
camping in state park
birdsong floats on morning breeze
cotton flies from trees
* * *
biking lakefront trail
past fishermen on pier
slow goose crosses path
* * *
evening slowly fades
lamps illuminate old bridge
reflect on river
* * *
daylight awakens
glad summer sunday morning
voices raise in praise
11 May 2017
by lynn__
in rhyming verse
Tags: crops, dirt, farmer, sod, sweat, toil
formed of elements
found in dirt
humble dust
on torn tee shirt
patient farmer
works fertile soil
all year harvesting
hope for toil
plant every spring,
gather in fall
watch crops grow
green, all stand tall
by sweat of brow
coax life from sod
till soul returns
to soil’s God.
We’re playing in the dirt with Bjorn for dVerse poetics this week…
15 Jun 2016
by lynn__
in nonet
Tags: arm, broken, farmer, heal, surgery
A nonet (1st line of 9 syllables, then 8…) written while waiting for dear patient.
to listen, absorb doctor’s orders
recovery will try patience
hard to keep a good man down
week of farmer’s birthday
why should cow kick him?
broken left arm
surgery
husband
heal
.
20 May 2016
by lynn__
in classical haiku
Tags: baling, cows, farmer, hay, summer
Today, Boncho’s haiku (below) inspired mine. The smell of cut alfalfa is a wonderful aroma! Another season of haying will soon begin with our first cutting here in Iowa. It’s pleasant to drive tractor for baling hay, if not too windy and dusty.
farmer works up sweat
bales hay on summer evening
to feed hungry cows
-lynn
how cool cut hay smells
when carried through the farm gate
as the sun comes up!
-Boncho
photo by lynn
Nozawa Boncho was a Japanese poet born c.1640. He spent most of his life working as a doctor in Kyoto. Boncho was one of Matsuo Bashō’s followers and wrote many famous haiku in his day. This is my response to Carpe Diem Haiku Kai: Utabukuro.
05 Apr 2016
by lynn__
in quadrille
Tags: calf, cow, farmer, flashlight, moonlight
flashlight searches cattle herd
shines on curly white forehead
newborn calf, wet in moonlight
cow’s warm tongue licking clean
baby rides shiny cart to barn
gleam of mama’s watchful eyes
colostrum drips from suckled teat
sheen of pitchforked straw
farmer’s smile shimmers thankful pride
Joining dVerse poets for Victoria’s quadrille (44 word) “shimmer” challenge.
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