American Prairie
Wisconsin’s prairie blooms in green
with occasional glimmers of silver grass
shivering in soft breezes and
pierced by deep violet clover
Dead trees, grey and
stalkstill as gravestones,
still force a new branch or two
The root of Jesse sprung anew
They refuse to give in to death
Stubborn as Midwesterners,
tough; hard to break, tenacious
Never say die
As daylight wanes and red sets,
we cruise Route 69
Around every bend,
a simple feast of foraging
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
At Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, Marian introduced us to the music of Tim Eriksen, a uniquely American folk artist, and asked us to conjure poems that reflect Americana. This morning, I would have been stumped, but as luck would have it, we took a day trip to New Glarus (yeah, our favorite brand of beer is made there, and oh, did we have a bit of fun!) and marveled at the breadth of the prairie grasses. Verdant, vibrant, strumming those heartstrings like Tim’s guitar, here in the breadbasket of America. I am so proud to live in Wisconsin (except for the politics, which we took a day off from monitoring for peace of mind).
Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
kaykuala
It would be a sight to see especially when these long stalks swayed lazily in the slight breeze! Thanks for sharing, Amelita!
Hank
Kay, Alberta, Canada
Oh, I love this, Amy.
I, too, love living on the prairie, except for the politics and my occasional irate rant re same.
K
Margaret
Verdant, vibrant, strumming those heartstrings like Tim’s guitar, here in the breadbasket of America. THAT is as beautiful as your poem! Good ‘ol Wisconsin. I grew up with it at my back door (Rockford, IL) and I was VERY appreciative of the grandfather clause when they changed the drinking age from 18 – 21. ;P
Love the descriptions in stanza two, the heart of stanza three. The whole poem rocks Americana!
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com
The nearest I have ever come to prairie is via Laura Ingals Wilder, so I appreciated your lovely descriptions.
J Cosmo Newbery
Vicarious travel! Thank you!
Kerry O'Connor
The United States has many sub-cultures, each unique and worth preserving through music and pride in lifestyle.
I love your description of the prairies, and your obvious love of your home State.
Marian
love the idea of foraging!
Hannah Gosselin
“silver grass
shivering in soft breezes and
pierced by deep violet clover”
I just LOVE this description, Amy.
This entire piece is gorgeous and full of wander-lust. 🙂
Sherry Blue Sky
I love this glimpse of the prairie, kiddo.
Jim
I love it, Amy. Glad also that you are taking a day off from politics. That is hard for us with the TV running 20/7. Texas politics are the pits also.
Your line, “The root of Jesse sprung anew” intrigued me into looking for allegory. In Isaiah 11:1 your words are followed by “and a flower shall rise up…” I.e. the prairie survives! My Dad’s farm had about three acres set aside as original prairie. The grass growing there was very hardy, perhaps since the ice age.
..
Helen
Born and raised in the Midwest … never more proud. This is a great poem!!!
I HAVE A VOICE
wonderful wonderful wonderful ! I hope you realize I’m always blessed reading your writing !
Patricia A. McGoldrick
What a perfect picture, Amy! So many details bring this scene to mind.
Pansy
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