By: Jim Bates

The last week in January
Rolling rural farmland
Nighttime deep and still
Stars floating in a cosmic haze
He stands in wonder
The old farmhouse a dream come true
Escape from the city
To this
To the country
To the deep stillness and peace and quiet
Cornfields frozen and resting until spring
Frost floating through crystalline air.

Suddenly from the house the cry of a baby
He smiles and turns to go inside
In that instant a star falls trailing silver light
He takes a moment absorbing the wonder
The essence of this special place
Then he waves goodbye
“See you later,” he says
“Tomorrow I’ll bring my son out to meet you.”
And he goes inside
Already looking forward returning with his boy
The two of them together with the land
Perfect.