On A Certain Origin of Thought

(Valley View Farm, Iowa, circa 1928)

The lines of my body bend

In strength with the horses I rein.

Pronged plows shift with my feet,

Catching and lifting out weeds

Between the rows of corn.

Steady the eye on the angle of row

Steady the hands on the reigns

Steady the rump on the seat of the plow

Ready the feet on the plow guides.

Corn.  Weeds.  Corn.  Weeds.  Corn.

Always tracking to save the corn

Always shifting to dig out weeds.

Corn.  Weeds.  Corn.  Weeds.  Corn.

It is half a century ago and more

Since I drove those horses

And rode that plow.

The things I think about are different now

Yet I move in that arc of thought:

Steady the eye and hand and rump

Ready the feet to track and shift.

Corn.  Weeds.  Corn.  Weeds.  Corn.

Yes.  No.  Yes.  No.  Yes.

                        Lois Langland