Fortified fields, built for a season,
constructed by John Deere Green.
Loved like a child, conceived for a reason,
fulfilling a farmer’s dream.
Planted and prayed for,
watered with sweat.
Almanac tested, hedging the bet.
Feeding the world, while taking a loss.
Looking ahead to cover the cost.
Hardened hands, cracked by the sun.
Fighting the elements, up before dawn.
Mortgaged land, floating in red.
Squeezed by the co-op,
the farm nearly dead
Up in the morning,
before the first light.
Like his father before him,
the farmers delight.
Planted and prayed for,
watered with sweat.
The skill of the farmer.
The greatest yield yet.
Lori,
You are so skilled in so many subjects, evoking emotion and spell binding energy, a great tribute to all of our hard working farmers!
Blessings~Shell
Wonderful tribute to your parents!
I am sure they are very proud!
Love, Becca
Reviewed by Alexander Shaumyan (Reader)
Reviewed on June 9, 2004
Excellent tribute, Lori. Love, Alex
Reviewed by Abe Rossi (Reader)
Reviewed on June 9, 2004
Grew up working on a farm...sept we drove Olivers...great write...thanx for sharing...Peace Abel
Reviewed by Thomas Lanechanger (Reader)
Reviewed on June 9, 2004
Very good yield of poetry, Poet!!! Powerful write!!! It’s sad what has happened to the farmers across the globe through the years!!! Yet, their fortitude and love of the land, has and will out last the co-ops and their greed!!! Thank you for your kind and gracious words, Lori. Just think, I’ll always be 21…lol. Keep The Faith.
A very strong poem in all respects, Lori, and a wonderful tribute to our world's unsung heros. I am from farming stock myself here in the UK and know that this last generation, who have lived through the effects of increasing globalisation and the destruction of our basic farming roots as a nation, has seen and experienced the countryside's lifeblood squeezed from the land. So many commit suicide - glad to see the ending here was not what I was anticipating!! Strength in your thought processes and pen here, as much as in those hardened hands cracked by the sun. Thank you. Kate xx
Reviewed by Debashish Haar (Reader)
Reviewed on June 9, 2004
I love the last line in this poem, Lori!
Reviewed by Dana Matthews (Reader)
Reviewed on June 9, 2004
"Valley Farm" is simply fantastic.
It has all that good poetry should have;
hearty subject, fluid thought and some
awesome rhyme. Oh I love the rhyme.
Wonderful Ode to the good old fashioned hardworking Mom and Pop Enterprise Farmer. Certainly not enough tributes and adulations have been paid to these generations of men and women who truly did put bread on our tables and meat on our plates.
And sadly, as someone else pointed out, gigantic modern farming conglomerates have practically made this hearty breeed extinct.
Truly enjoyed this, Lori.
Reviewed by Ron (sketchman) Axelson (Reader)
Reviewed on June 9, 2004
It takes a tuff person to be a farmer
Fabulous write......
Reviewed by na na (Reader)
Reviewed on June 9, 2004
Lori, you write well and with knowledge of your subject. It is a shame how so many farmers struggle and sweat, and "Get Another Day Older And A Dollar In Debt." There is a lot of American idealism in being a farmer; and a lot of world realization as to the importance of their work. But so many have gone under and lost everything they
owned with nothing to show for their work after 50 years of struggle.
What an American catastrophe. Hugs Bill
now here's a topic that needs more exposure. great work, Lori.
Reviewed by Fletcher Bailey (Reader)
Reviewed on June 9, 2004
A great poem...I can really relate to the corporate greed pushing farmers out of business. I watched a documentary a while back, that covered the change in farming from free range to more of a processing plant that resembled the gassing sheds used during the holocaust. I for one support free range and not mass production lines. Your poem is a nice tribute to these real farmers...nice work poet...Fletcher B
Reviewed by Andy Turner (Reader)
Reviewed on June 9, 2004
Summer time and the living is bloody hot and sweaty, even if the cottons easy..))
Yup one can feel the heat, when it is so darn hot too.
Discriptions are top drawer, hands cracked by the sun......
Nice one Lori...
Reviewed by Kate Clifford (Reader)
Reviewed on June 8, 2004
I could really feel this one with half of my family being farmers :-) Great write!
First Edition Translation of Teselas by Carmen Crespo X111 César Simón Poetry Prixe 2016 Translated from Spanish by Robin Ouzman Hislop and Amparo Arrospíde
This collection of poetry addresses the nature of time, reflections on the natural world, the difficulty of loss,
contemporary social issues and gratitude for life.
In the Whirlwind is a poetic storm that frees history from the cages of corruption and puts it in the hands of everyday people. Words are weaved into a new fashion statement that has nothing to do with runways but everything to do with projects!
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You are so skilled in so many subjects, evoking emotion and spell binding energy, a great tribute to all of our hard working farmers!
Blessings~Shell
I am sure they are very proud!
Love, Becca
It has all that good poetry should have;
hearty subject, fluid thought and some
awesome rhyme. Oh I love the rhyme.
Very good writing poet. Dana
And sadly, as someone else pointed out, gigantic modern farming conglomerates have practically made this hearty breeed extinct.
Truly enjoyed this, Lori.
Fabulous write......
owned with nothing to show for their work after 50 years of struggle.
What an American catastrophe. Hugs Bill
Love Tinka
Yup one can feel the heat, when it is so darn hot too.
Discriptions are top drawer, hands cracked by the sun......
Nice one Lori...