Acres of light

Looking back
over a life
spent on farms
and in the fields;
knowing how long it's been
since her face has been touched
by any hand but her own,
she remembers
what it was like
to be young and in love;
with the sunflowers blooming --
acres of light.

They were married in autumn
when the cornsilk hung
like a veil over ripening ears.
and their first child -- conceived

in a jubilation of fresh-gathered hay --
appeared the next summer
when the sunflowers were blooming --
acres of light.

Acres of light --
whether covered with snow
or furrowed with mud in the springtime --
acres of light
just as far as they could see.
The view from the window
as she stood and did dishes --
the wide sky with its tall clouds
and those acres of light.

He's gone now, and the children
have grown and moved on.
The house now stands empty,
the fields gone to grass.
The wheels on her chair squeak
as she rolls to the window
and remembers the sunflowers,
acres of light.

Acres of light --
whether covered with sunflowers
or buried in snow --
acres of light
just as far as they could see.
The view from the window
as she stood and did dishes --
the wide sky with its tall clouds
and those acres of light.