taken in his time

A eulogy for our friend, Harlan Kooima, who died in farm accident while loading cattle…

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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.

equinox musings

We retired from full-time farming two years ago. My days are a bit slower now but my husband has been equally as busy as before with home remodel and landscaping. I help him as needed, babysit grandchildren when asked, and volunteer…finding a balance of work and leisure time.

The fall equinox in our hemisphere means equal hours of day and night. We enjoy equal parts cold and heat as sun shines brightly during the day but not as strongly. On my walk, I notice the prairie seems equally dead and alive…some plants bloom wildly in a last hurrah and others have dried brown, boasting seeds.

We reap what we sow and sow what we reap. The past holds seed for a future harvest. Darkness and light, cold and heat, planting and harvest, rest and work, life and death all have their seasons. The clock ticks, the calendar page turns, and another equinox passes.

milkweed pods burst silk

tiny seeds carried away

future monarch’s food

broken chords

she stares at him
elbows akimbo and
painfully pointed, as
white alabaster shall
shatter to tiny tinkling
shards of heartsong

he doesn’t notice,
yet if never, how it
feels to desire, aching
for words; arms bent
to work longer, those
urgent cows in kilts

piano sails fast clipper
lingers on guitar strum
dishwasher humming
wet wipers swish back
and forth; passengers
on dismal carousel ride

 


A free verse surrealistic poem for dVerse Poetics.

sweat & muscle

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

 

workhorse

 

In memory of Rus V.Z. and Harold V.K.   (Image from trustworkz.com)

 

 

learn to work/work to learn

“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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

logo-napowrimo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

present-ing…

(Poem inspired by article at The High Calling & poetics “gift” prompt at dVerse.)

 

work is life gift

created to create

something productive

with whatever we have

stretch and hone abilities

promote one’s self-respect

provide for own desires

satisfy another’s need

give something back

to world we live in

joyfully serve six

actively rest one

weekly rhythm

work is life

…a gift!

 

summer solstice

 

light holds night at bay

warm earth blooms, time to make hay

farmer’s favorite day

 

dandelion lawn

cows in pasture, tractor’s song

work as day is long

 

Photo0251

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written in response to Carpe Diem’s prompt as we all anticipate the longest day