PRAIRIE LIFE

Cheap land had attracted them to the prairie,
Snow runoff and rains in June and July was very...
Important........so that their crops could mature,
But, with dry weather and rain, nothing was for sure!
From every direction, the wind blew all of the time,
Without relenting, no dark clouds! Not a sign!
Steady and hot..........sucking up every motion!
Not one drop of rain, for their harvest promotion!
When they picked up a handful of the dry earth,
The winds blew it away and the land was not worth,
Even one dollar........after all their years of toil,
Everything blew far away....all their rich soil!
The women couldn't get their laundry white then,
No matter how hard they tried, again and again!
When they looked at the clothesline, they wanted to cry,
To see children's clothes, so grey...against a grey sky!
They worked their fingers, right to the bone!
Scrubbing each day, in their dust-covered home!
Even the water, from the well, that they had,
Came out, with dust particles....looking so bad!
What a drab, dusty life, they surely did live!
No crops!.... No money!..... No hope to give!
Hard-working, good people, who deserved to succeed!
Now discouraged...dust covered...and so in need!
They eventually all gave up and turned away,
From all of their dreams, about "someday",
For their land was gone....It had all blown away!

Pauline Banning

W4-1013-98-D10

When I start to feel sorry about my own, small problems, I think about the
people, who have faced greater struggles. I try to put myself in their
shoes, in order to empathize, but it is difficult, for I am surrounded by
many luxuries and like most people, I sometimes forget to be sufficiently
grateful.

This page hosted by

Get your own Free Home Page