After Harvest

AFTER HARVEST



WHY SHOULD ANYONE TRY TO PUT A DISTANCE
BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THEIR LIFE
THERE IS A MELANCHOLY WALKING AMONG
THESE ORANGE PEACH LEAVES

AN OCCASIONAL CANOE TAKES SAIL TO THE GROUND
HARVEST HERE IS CONCLUDED
THE SPRINKLERS STILL SING EARLY MORNING SONGS
THE FOLIAGE HIDES THE NOISE OF THE TRACTOR

THIS IS NOT SOMEWHAT LIKE THE OCEAN IN WINTER
THERE IS A GENTLE MIST RISING TO THE SUN
THE SOUNDS OF NATURE ARE SLIGHTLY MUFFLED
AND YOU MY FRIEND ARE AT MY SIDE

LIKE THESE TREES YOU GIVE OF YOURSELF TO ME
WITH AN EASE
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COLORS OF THIS TIME
KNOWING THEY ARE YOUR FAVORITE

A SINGLE PEACH DANGLES PRECARIOUSLY
AND ALMOST CLIMATICALLY YOU PICK IT
TO SHARE WITH ME
THE SPRINKLERS SPECKLE YOUR PANTS

THE GROWING SEASON IS OVER
CONSUMED BY TIME
LIKE THE WINTER WAVES RUNNING INTO SHORE
WE TRANSCEND THIS MOMENT

AND ALL I KNOW OF GROWING AND HARVESTING
COMES FROM YOU AND YOUR SPIRIT
SO WITH THE RHYTHM OF THE SPRINKLERS
WE WALK INTO OUR LIVES
BEGINNING ANEW LIKE THESE COLORS


                                                           Scott R. Dorr