Order Michael Finch’s new book, A Time to Stand: HERE. Prof. Jason Hill calls it “an aesthetic and political tour de force.”
Sweet prairie grass rise,
golden in hue under sun splashed August skies,
an azure that blinds in beauty high,
across the late afternoon sky.
Rolling land in bounty, all fullness and open,
of birdsong, whisk of wind and insects sing,
whirling, all in flurry around the creek side bend,
full and flowing strong, alight of sparkling diamonds,
in summer’s shimmering, shining bright.
Such splendor of farmer’s field and unplanted,
unplowed upland to ridges in heavens reach,
oh America, of a pure settler’s soul,
opening to its riches, worked in sweat,
honor and toil, be worthy of God’s praise.
The sun settles in calming violets and indigo,
to that Western sky, succumbing to,
an easing of dusk of day and to the end of all time,
the Heartland in reprieve, Bless us.
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Art Credit: Diane Zinn. See Diane’s art at dianevandam.com.
