A little ditty I wrote last year....
As I drive down the
highway this early fall morning. the harvest moon is beginning to
set. It is big, luscious and a breathtaking shade of pale
yellow. I can see the small animals smelling the air and
drinking from the ponds tucked within the groves of trees along
the road. The water seems to be a surface of glass reflecting
back to the moon her gaze of wonder. The sunflowers are
beginning to droop their heads in their gray permanent stillness,
readying themselves to feed the birds traveling south for the
winter before the hungry combines gobble them up.
I drive as slowly as I
can, observing the old farmers making their way to the gas
stations on the edges of the small country towns along this
peaceful highway. This is where they gather after eating
their breakfasts of eggs and bacon sprinkled with salt and pepper
and a piece of buttery toast. The smell probably
lingers…blending with the odor of cigarettes, coffee and
diesel that permeate the air in these gathering places. I remember
their type of talk from my childhood, blessed with time spent near
my grandpa, an old farmer himself. I know the most treasured
words they utter the 'God Dammits" and "Bullshits"
that are the exclamations of choice, often followed by deep laughter.
I smile as I drive on
still staring at the moon shining down on me. The clouds on
the horizon have edged closer. The moon seems to tuck her
self inside the puffy pockets within them. She looks like a
huge button being pushed through a button hole on a soft, cozy sweater.
As the moon sinks
lower and lower on the horizon the sun begins to rise behind me in
the east. The colors of the moon intensify becoming bright
yellows, oranges, reds and pinks. It is a breath taking
scene. I feel every moment of this beauty vibrate my
soul. Tears of wonder and amazement fall from my
eyes. As the moon finally sets at the end of the westerly
highway, I take a deep breath and notice a hawk swoop down in
front of me. It is as if he came to say he understands this
moment in my soul and brings his blessing to the beginning of this
beautiful fall day.