Once Upon A summer Harvest

Once Upon a Summer Harvest
 A poem by Tess Klingele

There was a beautiful time I used to be able to sing out at the moon
on those windy nights when the grain would fly through the air
and the wild rice would sway with me
rocking me to sleep like I was a baby
Till I'd drowsily fall to the ground and sleep
sleep wrapped in a blanket of summer night heat.

Murmuring, murmuring to myself
as the sun would flicker on ,
rays peeling open my eyelids,

fresh rain that straggled my hair
washed the dirt and left me bare

freshness
smoothness
the sun as my towel
my ears ringing from the coyotes howl.

back in a life of sweetness ,
of mecrcy
and wonder

a life that came before the thunder.