Amish Lady

She, envy me?
She in her same dress
Me in my jeans

She nudges her glasses and glances at her husband
I pin up my hair and glance at mine.

No, I envy her
For the multiples too far from her
For the freedom in her limits
Hearth and fire, barn and bed
It will take me generations to learn
What she acquired at her mama's knee

My granddaddies left their farms for the cities
And I am landless and ignorant, yearning.
No chickens within these city limits.

So I admire her workhorse and nose through her garden
I cherish her children who peek
Hide and seek
I admire her from afar

Would that I were nearer thee, Amish Lady.

Still it is no place to hide
We both live in plain sight, under the cloud
Under the big flash fire
A pillar of smoke and a tower of power
As they say, the hand of man has become like God

Still, I yearn for how it could be
Simple
I am earnest for thee
Amish Lady