The Good Earth
My daddy was a farmer,
a good one who knew how to
manipulate the elements in order
to achieve agricultural success.
He was well aware that all
of the elements play their part
and are necessary for growth but
the most tangible one is the soil.
I have seen him take
a handful, smell it,
work it and then let it
run through his fingers back
to the good earth from which it came.
If it smelled sour, he would take loads of lime
and spread them over his vast fields.
If it clumped as he worked it, he knew
it was too wet and he must have patience.
Dry, lifeless soil alerted him
to add living organisms.
He would top dress the soil
with aged manure,
collected free of charge from
his livestock, cows,
sheep, horses, chickens.
Nothing went to waste on the farm.
Or he might know it was time to
rest a field for a season,
He would plant a cover crop
which would grow and
be plowed back into the soil
to give it new vigor.
He planted on faith that
the rains would come,
the sun would shine
and the winds would be still,
when the crop seeds were ripe.
Heavy winds could take his seeds before
he could safely harvest them.
Next year he would start again
and prepare his soil
so that all elements could work together to
insure success.
Won 3rd
Copyright © Joyce Johnson | Year Posted 2011
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