By Day By Night Poem by Astral Shepherd

I.

by day
she toils in the hot bright sun
tilling the hard parched earth
wearing the red woolen scarf
her long passed father gave
for her shoulders
fending off flies and heat
the spade probes and turns
creating hollows for seed
with each steel stab of the blade
a prayer forms on the lips
may my labors produce growth
and with each bone jarring jab
the furrows are formed
as long brown dusty graves
she straitens herself in stiffness
beating back pains of strain
wavering heat streams rise
with the whining insect murmur
and she lifts weary eyes
for a moment
straining against the glaring sun
pleading with the sky for rain



II.

by night
she dreams the calm of shadows
sailing upon clear azure seas
wearing a white silk ribbon
her long past lover gave
for her hair
delighting in the evening cool
her vessel slides a soft wake
creating hollows for dreams
with each rising ocean swell
a prayer forms on the lips
may my heart find peace
and with each sweeping tack
her journey onward is set
as a long and foamy wake
she straitens herself in expectation
welcoming the soothing soft breezes
constant cool rains fall
as shining nightingales call
and she lifts hopeful eyes
for a moment
straining for the first star’s light
wishing for her prince to take her away