A Gleaning
(Ancient Egypt recognized three seasons)
Born in akhet, the season of inundation
under skies shrouded by clouds
I don’t know how to walk
free of the land.
My toes dig into the slick stick of mud
and I pull the weight of ground
on my journeys.
Born before peret, the season of sowing
the season when strong earth
receives seed, I miss the
incense of just opened soil
of walking between rows
furrowed and tilled
readied for bulbs and cuttings.
Born before shemu, the season of growing,
season of bees and of worms,
I walk past wheat stalks and branches
bowed with berries. Until a ritual of
tongue and teeth appears in dream
until I wake to gilt sunrise
until I pull and pick to reap my first harvest.
(MacGuffin, Fall 2003)
