this is a locust year
at dusk the sky all
pinky mauve the locusts
shrill loud and louder a
rhythmic pulse they fade
to a chrrr stop silence then
start again shrill as before
we travel deep in the green
rows snapping off corn ears
fat with brown hair tangles
more than we’ll ever eat
plenty to share blessing
our farmer friends blessing
the earth’s bounty blessing
the little bobwhite nearby
who sings bob white
pauses
then again
bob white . . .
bob white . . .

© 2010 Jacqueline Jackson