Heartland

In the middle
sitting on a fence surrounding
an open field
alfalfa between my teeth

the moo of my heart
the rolling hills
tucked away in my memory

a need to compromise
to say yes
yes for the suffering
of all the missing people
on milk cartons
drowning in my cereal
and forgotten

yes to the easy slide of life
nothing at the bottom
after a careful climb

yes to rivers and lakes
and ponds with docks
and no boats
fish no one can eat

yes to uncles and aunts
as plump as their cows
as dependable as the shade
of the trees in their back yards
on a hot July day

when the corn has yet to decide
whether it's a good
or bad year.