New Corn
Jun 10, 2008
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New Corn | Tuesday Jun 10, 2008
Roots
by John Piller
Mendota, Illinois
It's easy to believe you can go back
Whenever you desire, jump in the car
And drive, arrive at dusk—the hour
Whenever you desire, jump in the car
And drive, arrive at dusk—the hour
You recall most vividly—and walk
Among the buildings spread across the farm,
Out toward the pastures, woods, and fields.
Among the buildings spread across the farm,
Out toward the pastures, woods, and fields.
There is music in the leaves, in the dense
Columns of green corn. The wind lays down
The tune. You can play it, too, simply
Columns of green corn. The wind lays down
The tune. You can play it, too, simply
By walking with eyes closed, arms
Stretched out, lightly striking the stalks.
Who wouldn't desire, like the children
Stretched out, lightly striking the stalks.
Who wouldn't desire, like the children
Lost in so many similar fields,
To sit down on the turned earth and drift
Away on the rhythms of his own
To sit down on the turned earth and drift
Away on the rhythms of his own
First possible death? Rescuing
Voices come closer, veer off. Flashlight beams
Strobe over your head. You do not care.
Voices come closer, veer off. Flashlight beams
Strobe over your head. You do not care.
Each building you remember—hen house,
Sheep shed, corn crib, barn—caved in upon itself,
The walls and roofs collapsing with a final
Sheep shed, corn crib, barn—caved in upon itself,
The walls and roofs collapsing with a final
Percussive clap, since you last walked those fields.
No one you will ever know works that land now.
It is as green as Eden. Life rises in the roots, in the leaves.
No one you will ever know works that land now.
It is as green as Eden. Life rises in the roots, in the leaves.
Tags: corn farmland field pacificnorthwest rural scenic sprouts sumas usa washington
Galleries: Landscapes
Post a Comment:
Posted by Oeilonirique on June 10, 2008 at 09:42 PM PDT #
Posted by Michelle (artscapes) on June 10, 2008 at 09:50 PM PDT #
Posted by Deniss on June 10, 2008 at 10:56 PM PDT #
Posted by Thomas on June 11, 2008 at 12:47 AM PDT #
Posted by Mrs T on June 11, 2008 at 04:34 AM PDT #
Posted by sherri on June 11, 2008 at 07:08 AM PDT #
Posted by Lena on June 11, 2008 at 08:15 AM PDT #
Then I saw the curved swirl on the right and SMILED!! I thought, "Oooo, how cool. Someone has a sense of humor, or individuality, or rebellion to NOT follow the same path as everyone else. " It made me laugh inside and feel happy again. Whether the swirl part on the right was made from that place, a playful place or not, I nonetheless felt that way. Like there is STILL magic in the world, STILL freethinkers, STILL uncontrollable elements.
Then I saw the the odd patches at the foreground and realized they must be water (the reflections in them). They gave me the same sense of relief, like something breaking up the continuous sameness of the straight orderly lines. To me the water and the swirls on the right MAKE this whole photo. How amazing!1 I love it.
Posted by RainforestRobin on June 11, 2008 at 08:16 AM PDT #
This would also look great as a B&W.
Posted by Phil on June 11, 2008 at 07:56 PM PDT #
Posted by Craig Wilson on June 12, 2008 at 12:25 AM PDT #
Posted by Joachim on June 15, 2008 at 12:43 PM PDT #
Posted by Larry McDowell on June 16, 2008 at 12:45 PM PDT #
Posted by FLOOG on July 04, 2008 at 09:03 AM PDT #