Purpose
Could she scare a crow?
How long will she stand immovable?
Will she come to life in a gold rush summer
protect the corn as if it was her children?
Will she change her shirt
come out of the rain?
Will she lobby for a bigger pole
to be hoisted on?
Will she eavesdrop on birds
claim sunflowers as her own?
Will she fall over in October
spend winter in a windowless shed?
Will she keep her eyes closed
Wait for birdsong to open them?
Will she let mice make nests
in the crook of her wooden neck
Will she dream of the tall grass
and wildflowers of her youth?
Will she learn the difference
between giving up and letting go?
_______Colleen Redman / Poets and Storytellers United
June 13th, 2021 12:55 am
I think she will undoubtedly become as much at one with nature as she can be.
June 13th, 2021 1:25 am
Oh, I hope she learns the difference! Giving up will stay with her, eat her alive with regrets and “what ifs.” Letting go is so peaceful.
June 13th, 2021 4:31 am
I love this and that last question is a great one
June 13th, 2021 6:20 am
I think scarecrows need to move around a bit to make them appear more human.
June 13th, 2021 10:05 am
great musings.
“Will she learn the difference
between giving up and letting go?” – even humans are finding this hard to tell.
June 13th, 2021 11:45 am
Love this Collen–especially your last stanza–dreaming of the tall grass–it is such a wonderful extended metaphor.
June 13th, 2021 12:45 pm
All those days in the field will have left her the wiser, and she is undoubtedly the queen of letting go! I will never see another scarecrow without wondering, however!
June 13th, 2021 12:59 pm
The line between giving up and letting go is a tough one for us ordinary humans, but hopefully her time spent observing and being will give her a better perspective.
June 13th, 2021 4:40 pm
She is as strong as the day is long … a survivor.
June 13th, 2021 6:47 pm
Love this!