He threw in the farm he envisioned,
a thick shawl of trees surrounding
straight seams of feed corn,
cattle dotting generous pastures.
He tossed in the house
he’d never have with a wife
deported, everything sold to pay
a lawyer who lied as machines never do.
He drove the combine up the flatbed
where its lumbering hulk
teetered till tied down,
shut off, sold for scrap.
As it was hauled away,
the truck driver blared
those far simpler sorrows
country music offers proud patriots.
Laura Grace Weldon is the author of the poetry collections Blackbird and Tending, as well as a handbook of alternative education titled Free Range Learning. She was named Ohio Poet of the Year for 2019. Her background includes teaching nonviolence workshops, writing collaborative poetry with nursing home residents, and facilitating support groups for abuse survivors. She works as a book editor and teaches community writing classes. Connect with her at lauragraceweldon.com.
Photograph by Russell Viers.
The Revolution (Relaunch) 