Monday, December 30, 2013

The Windmill

Photo credit: www.erniemargheim.blogspot.com 



The breeze whispers a melody
Passing through the tall grass
Accompanied by an eerie creak
The only voice I have left.

So here I stand, lonely but loyal
The empty sea of prairie
swaying in the breeze
As my rusty blades creak along.

I am still here.
Still performing my duty
Bringing lifeblood to the surface:
Cool clear water.

The cracked wooden trough overflows
As it has these long years
It is rotting out as time goes by
But it is the only friend I have left.

The cattle have long since gone
Sold years ago, and not by choice
It was so dry that year
And the family just couldn't get by

I was still new and sturdy
And the wind brought me to life
Swishing through me
My strong blades spinning fast

And hard as I worked there was no water to bring forth
The essential lifeblood needed for a family to survive
It was no ones fault
Just bad luck I guess.

They had to leave everything behind
All the hours of hard work and love
They put into this land, their home
Including me.

I remember the strong young man who built me
And his lovely wife who helped and encouraged him
They were so happy and proud, and with dreams in their eyes
When they gazed upon me, their finished work.

The man spent long hours crafting me,
Every plank and nail perfectly in place
He built me to last.
And I have lasted.

Then I remember the little boy
Who would sit at the trough and play
He would talk to me sometimes.
Those days were my most favorite.

I've outlasted that hopeful little family
Through the first few years that were good,
Then the last hard years of drought
And all the worry and the tears.

I remember the day they sold their cattle,
And all of their dreams with them.
Then had to move back east
And left me all alone...

Now decades have past
And I am still here.
Lord of the vast sea of prairie
Where I stand alone

Still turning
Bringing up the water
Overflowing the trough
But It makes no difference now.

Trying to make up for the dry years
When I could not bring the water,
But nothing can bring them back.
That hopeful little family that I so loved.

So here I stand, all broken down
Alone, steadfast, relentless I turn.
And turn. And keep turning.
Forever loyal, forever remembering.