31 March 2008

Writer's Island 3/31/08 "Torrid"


"parched w/c"


The Long Dry

by Constance


Late winter snow

squall dropped eight

inches. After six years

of drought it’s not enough,

not now. Ranchers pain.

White flakes blow across

needy pastures without

sinking in. The coalbed

methane water that was

to save them bubbles

merrily from the spigot.

The land suffocates

in alkali silence.


*Originally Published in Wyoming Paintbrush

13 comments:

World So Wide said...

Powerful!

Especially the ending:

The land suffocates
in alkali silence.

Anonymous said...

Stark! Hits very hard!

word by word

Anonymous said...

A poem for our times.

Anonymous said...

"alkali silence" is a stupendous phrase! And "The Long Dry," is a really good title.

If you like the oil wars, you're gonna love the water wars.

Constance Brewer said...

Leonard - Sometimes you find just the right phrase...

Constance Brewer said...

gautami - Thanks!

Constance Brewer said...

Keith - Thank you!

Richard - I don't like either war, but no one gave me a choice! :)

Tumblewords: said...

Amazing how much water it will take to catch up...nice work!

Constance Brewer said...

tumblewords - more water than we got!
thanks. :)

Jeques said...

The long thirst makes the craving.

Oftentimes, this could also be true even among humans.

We wanted it bad, really bad. And once we get it, we can't just get enough of anything.

I like the double meaning that this poem could speak when the sentiments are humanized.

I wish you well.

~ Jeques

Constance Brewer said...

jeques - layers are good... I think we put double meaning in everything we write...

Meghan said...

You can really feel the bleakness and desolation of the land. Very well done!

Constance Brewer said...

Thanks, Meghan. A wet spring makes all the difference - picture wise.