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Open Poetry #6

New calf winter

jbowie
Member

since 2000-02-18

Posts 135
BANGOR (that OR) ME

0 posted 2000-03-10 10:57 PM

Standing in the snow laden fields beyond the view
of his frosted kitchen windows, the farmer shudders
as a cold brisk wind cuts unrelentingly, like a worn
ragged scalpel, through his tattered winter coat
rasping against his tired bones

Struggling with a difficult birth, a young
isolated heifer strains to deliver her first
calf into the unprotected winter fury
as the desperate farmer covers her back
with blankets to ease her suffering

As the succeding waves of contractions assail
the weary heifer, the calf's front hooves protrude
from the birth canal, but entrapped within
the process, the young calf is unable
to pass into it's future life

The bleakly matted winter sky looms ominously
dark above the farmer, as he struggles to push
his arm into the contracting birth canal, feeling
for the calf's head, that is twisted awkwardly,
blocking the only way out

Straining, the farmer gently redirects the
misguided calf's head, aligning it with the
protruding hooves, until he can see the soft
pink nose, pushed through the opening by the
heifers rythmic contractile waves

As the farmer catches the calf gently in his arms,
he looks up to see the roiling gray clouds
slowly become runneled with amber hues of the
re-emerging sun, indicating the passing
of the ravaging winter storm

A real man
kisses his children goodnight

poetFemmeFatale
Member Elite

since 1999-07-25

Posts 2646
Arkansas

1 posted 2000-03-10 11:02 PM

Takes a real talent to write such a beautiful poem about a cow giving birth! LOL I remember the first time I experienced this, my jaw was on the ground, as it too, was a young heifer giving birth to her first, and she too, had the same troubles. To see a man's arm disappear.....uh....wow. I just didn't know what to think! LOL Unfortunately, her calf didn't make it though. I had forgotten about that, until I read this, as that was almost 18 years ago! Thanks for the memories! hehe I just sent you an email...take a look, ok? Truly, pFF

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