Gershon Wolf Poet Free verse

To Plow and Seed

A well-water pump cranks out its iron-water
    crooked wire remains -- once, sturdy chicken coops
  The brackish, muddy area over there, the cowshed
    some withered trees dot the hills, bereft now of their fruit

  A few young lads herd goats, or perhaps they are living skeletons?
    cows with ribs exposed, horses with manes as limp as rags ...
  Some day they'll come again, the strong, determined youth
    to bale the hay, to turn the rocks over, to plow and seed relentlessly ...

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Michael Tor August 5, 2023 at 3:08 PM God save our farmers and country. Thank you Gershon for voicing the truth...

J. Summers August 4, 2023 at 8:40 AM I’ve seen farms as you describe them. Farmers and families pushed off the land by corporate greed. Land left unused by people who knew how to use it. And now, Russians are making a weapon of wheat while India just stopped rice shipments in order to bring prices down for their own people. Let that sink in while listening to Rain on the Scarecrow by John Mellencamp. John

Panagiota Romios August 3, 2023 at 8:03 PM Hi Gershon. Let me know in this is a poem antiwar. I read it three times and I don’t see it please respond.. Pangie Gershon Wolf August 3, 2023 at 8:06 PM I didn't think of war at all when I wrote this, but I see that you are not the only one who reads it this way. Is it an anti-war poem? -- No, it sure wasn't intended to be. ~ 2B

Terry Flood August 3, 2023 at 3:55 PM Wow, GW… a dystopian vision? A land where the men have gone to war? The human race destroyed by pandemic?nuclear onslaught? or perhaps Alien invasion? A graphically brilliant write and a fave from me. Gershon Wolf August 3, 2023 at 7:14 PM Wow. A fave from you?!! My heart is over-flooding with love. Lub-glug... lug-blub. Thank you, Terry! :) gw

Paula Goldsmith August 3, 2023 at 1:30 PM A wonderful write. I enjoyed it. A hard life. Have a great day............. Gershon Wolf August 3, 2023 at 7:21 PM We were never promised a 'rose garden.'

Kim Rodrigues August 3, 2023 at 6:03 AM Fraught with imagery! A sad one indeed!

John Lawless August 3, 2023 at 5:01 AM sadly prophetic prognosis on the future of the small farms and families and yet...a powerful metaphor for life...well done Gershon Gershon Wolf August 3, 2023 at 7:24 PM thank you so much, John. Appreciated.

Valsa George August 2, 2023 at 10:05 PM The life of these youngsters are drowned in poverty, still they work hard to earn their livelihood ! One day they will grow out of this sad condition and become healthy youngmen ready to plough and seed. Gershon Wolf August 3, 2023 at 7:24 PM I hope that you are correct, Valsa!