If Only We Could

by Lisa Fields

I have this yearning

for all the young men and women in

olive drab and polished boots

faces intent, minds sharply focused

to lift, with those fine-tuned muscles

the well pumps for the ravaged villages that have no water

set the poles, install the wiring

lay the brick and

trowel the mortar

 rebuild schools, community centers

follow the elders through garden patches,

planting just as the women show them--

 to bend and lift and carry

sacks of seed and meal,

buckets of milk from goats in the pen

dig the ditches

apply their teamwork,

the discipline,

the skills--

turned away from F-16s and rocket launchers

tanks and missiles--

turned into the work

of making the broken whole

around the world

How great my American pride would be

if only we could…

* * * * *

Lisa Fields lives in Southwestern New Mexico. Writing poetry expresses her desire to be immersed in a state of balance. Her inspiration comes from the joy of wild places and the challenge to live happily in the domesticated world. She is a contract writer for Quirine Ketterings, Professor of Nutrient Management in Agricultural Systems, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. In her home state of NY, Lisa served the farming community as an Extension educator for 10 years, and then worked for 10 years as a self-employed advisor.