A country road
With tall overgrown weeds
Winds along the Harpeth.
The old slave fence
In tumble down ruin
Reveals an opening.
A golden field
Of grasses and thistles
Bathes in yellow sunshine.
The lone black cow
With ebony dark eyes
Looks forlornly confused.
A stillborn calf
In effected repose
Lies dead on the hard ground.
The birthing cord
Of artery, of vein
Hangs limp, bloody, and chewed.
A mother’s cry
With low and mournful plea
Goes unanswered, unheard.
The hungry group
Of rank turkey vultures
Pecks the little corpse clean.
Copyright DJ Anderson 2013
Author's Note: In memory of the tens of thousands of innocents killed during the Iraq war, on this 10-year commemorative date.
