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The golden bronze death of red oaks
arches over the road
as we drive into tunnel
upon tunnel
of illumination Country hymns
Carry Me Down By The River
Whispering Hope in my ear
open onto field upon field of cornstalks
marsh grass weathered red barns stone silos
A flock of starlings block out the sun
Gulls assume the sky’s
white
space
Vista after vista changes before us
trees russet and burgundy
sumac color of dried blood
evergreens so blue they are black
Snow’s slate gray sky wavers over morning
A few flakes drift
Green Bay waters leap
fall back
Limestone bluffs stand still
As day darkens toward night
those we have lost
appear along the roadside of our minds
two small boys wave
parents grandparents
friends from long ago
We carry them forward even as they vanish
into the blur of distance
Carry them with us
to another harvest
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