HEARTLAND HOMECOMING 

Miles travelled on a ribbon of highway

surrounded by fields larger than the river town we called home.

Brown earth with ribbons of green

stretching as far as the eye can see

encircling an island of buildings

a house, a barn, some outbuildings of varied colors

and a collection of tin-man heads and hats

in which the fruit of the fields will be gathered.

At our destination, from the kitchen window

we spot something out of place:

a calf wanders in the middle of the road

while its mother, aunts and cousins

graze nearby on the right side of the fence.

“This has happened before. We told an old man about it

and he said, ‘It happens all the time.

Don’t worry! it will crawl back under the fence.’”

This calf didn’t get the memo.

The doorbell rings. There stands a young girl.

“Someone’s cow is in the middle of the road

but nobody answered the door at the farmhouse.”

My daughter puts on her barn boots.

“Cover me,” she says heading for the road.

The calf leaves the road running in a field

still on the wrong side of the fence.

Careful not to step on two inch corn poking up from the earth

we attempt to herd the wayward critter

toward the low-voltage rope with its family waiting on the other.

Grasping the handle of the wire--a space is opened

through which the little one might run toward reunion.

Despite circuitous steps to urge a proper course

the calf is not buying it.

Instead it heads back for the road.

Just then the mini herd of three big and two small ones

make for the space I’ve opened

causing me to hastily put the wire/rope back in place

after untangling it from around my feet.

Thank God for low voltage!

My daughter managed to encourage the wee beast

up the driveway and into the farmyard

where it somehow got back together with its mama.

Our cattle drive complete we returned to the homestead,

to shed our muddy boots

and lift a glass in celebration, as over a hearty meal

we regaled our spouses with tales of the adventure.

The sun set in the West

as we prepared for a night’s rest

aware that “love your neighbor”

sometimes involves getting your boots dirty.