[12]
     
    
   
   
    
     
      icij
     
    
   
   
    
     
      The
      Island
      Farmer
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Verse
      1
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Verse
      2
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Verse
      3
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Fragile
      as
      the
      patterns
     
     
      Beaten
      in
      the
      sand
      -
     
     
      Multi-layered
      dunes,
      attract
      the
      eye.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      -
      Strongest
      storms
      have
      crashed
     
    
   
   
    
     
      To
      cause
      their
      symmetry,
     
     
      And,
      hottest
      suns
      have
      baked
     
     
      Their
      graceful
      imagery.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      So,
      too,
      the
      Island
      farmer
      possessing
     
     
      Elements
      that
      could
      be
      shaped,
     
     
      Made
      strong,
      through
      Nature's
      trials,
     
     
      Or,
      crushed
      to
      helplessness,
     
     
      His
      patterns
      washed
      away.
     
     
      When
      forcibly
      compelled
     
     
      To
      change
      his
      Island
      ways.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      His
      furrowed
      brow
      reflects
     
    

    
     
      His
      steadfast,
      long-resolve
     
    

    
     
      To
      shape
      his
      fortunes,
      true
      to
      Nature's
      way.
     
     
      But,
      change
      is
      fast
      upon
      his
      land,
     
     
      Reflected
      in
      his
      gaze
      -
     
    

    
     
      A
      pensive
      stare
      -
      with
      heavy
      heart
     
    

    
     
      He
      puts
      his
      plow
      away.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Millie
      Walker
      Trainor