Omar

he defined grandpa as
OshKosh overalls and cowboy boots
topped with a cap from the local Co-Op
and aftershave of Prince Albert

he defined grandpa as
a stoic face gazing out the picture window
interrupted at times by an ornery smile
and smoke-choked laughter

he defined grandpa as
tending after peach trees and
horses and cattle all the while knowing
care reaps the best rewards
and showing his grandchildren
lessons through experience so as
they'd never touch an electric fence

he defined grandpa as
being there an expression of love
and that words aren't always needed
for his actions said it all

he defined grandpa as
giving it your all is a way of life
that doing what you can for others should be second nature
and that you should always take some time to fish

he defined grandpa as
you can always do more than one thing at a time
such as rolling a cigarette while chasing coyotes
through a rougher than rough field in his greyhound packed truck
and that a steady diet of fried eggs, sweet tea,
and Betty Lou's hot rolls can get you almost to ninety

he defined grandpa as
sweat can pay your debts
dirt can cleanse your soul
that you take the road your given
and to hold on until you have to let go

Screaming of seeds

it burns within the earth
within the heart of the molten iron
that churns upon itself
it affects each and every molecule
pulling them in and letting them go
to bind and create with every destruction
each building wave
each crumbling mountain
each burning forest
each opening cocoon
it is the progression of these forgotten gods
who are no different that the children
who mourn their classmates after a shooting
we put a face to it
to claim it as our own
to try to harness and understand it
that which keeps our clocks ticking
and our minds hungry for more
in the consumption of our debts
pours forth the need to return the favor
and in there it lies too
in the planting of trees
and holding of hands
in the teaching and listening and laughing
and knowing that the tears
will nourish what's yet to come
there it plays in the warmth of May
where dreams bloom and fruit
and people remember they're all from the same place
and there it slumbers in the winter ice
where it stings on numb skin and stale thoughts
and can be heard by those who listen
as the screaming of seeds