The Gift, by Betty Gwen Barlow

The Gift

Give me the gift of time

to travel the byways

and back roads

And fresh eyes to see

fat, contented cows

grazing in green lush pastures

of sweet sweet clover

And the privilege to stop

where and when I please

at any roadside stand

for big Vidalia onions

and ripe Elberta peaches

Then, towards the end

of a peaceful, slow day

the luxury of a country store

a bottle of ice cold Coke

a bag of boiled peanuts

The honor of sitting on a bench

with old men in bib overalls

and Bull of the Woods caps

and listening to them talk

about places with names

like Five Points, Lizards Leap,

and Hunger and Hardship Creek

Give me that gift, dear Lord

and I promise to cherish it forever

and ever

Amen.

SLR thanks Betty Gwen Barlow for sharing her work in honor of National Poetry Month.