My Heart Her Soil To Keep

by logan dugger

I met God on a dairy farm, pulling gently on Sal’s utters. The irony, my stomach couldn’t remedy A thirst I couldn’t quench.

Wheat and hay and harmony. Grains and stalk with seed. Plaid jacket overalls and the wide brim hat. Manure tasted sweet with milk.

New York horns and busy streets. San Francisco has the sun and fog. Beauty of a cow patty beats them all. Sweat and work for precious loam.

Just a mere mortal. Bringing gold up from the land. Chuck and pull and lean. Dust in every breath.

The fire gives me energy. From plant to man to tree. The devil came the other day with a discouraging subsidy.

Used up like dirt. The smell of God has left this place. Just me and Sal. Hands and utters with vaseline.

Earth and I are distant now. Even though I gave to her, she gives me less and less. My heart her soil to keep.