Edited by Corrine Frisch
Illinois
Rich loamed tumescent earth
black as Mississippi silt
crusty as brown sugar
lies waiting for the plow.
Yielding with sensuous delight
to the disc and harrow
furrowed rows of yawning mouths
greedily eat the seed
that drops in measured cadence.
Then sated
quietly quicken
through sun lit days
and moon drunk nights
to be delivered by iron midwives
in autumn’s dying light.
–Cheryl Miles
Local poets were writing about contemporary events in the Sangamo
Journal as early as the 1830s. People’s Poetry wants you to share your thoughts
on what’s happening in Springfield today–in poetic form. Poems on any subject
will be considered, but ones that deal with issues of local interest are encouraged.
Send yours to poetry editor Corrine Frisch c/o Illinois Times, P.O. Box 5256,
Springfield, IL 62705, or by e-mail to caf1025@aol.com with “Bards of the Sangamo” in the subject line. (Please limit your submissions
to poems of 14 lines or less.)
This article appears in Oct 2-8, 2003.
