The elderly burst with wisdom

like milkweed,

Corn sprouts in the farmer’s head

as he coaxes the field with his plow.

In the early morning meadowlarks

compete with crows.

Cows haunt the still grass with moans.

Men on horseback swallow bandanas.

The land flattens, undulates

like a tomato worm.

Trees grow more down than up.

Water hides underground

clotted around long-necked dinosaurs

whose bones are pumped

into the chugging tractor.

Tumbleweeds twirl in the cowboy’s hair.