Poetry
Maggie Murphy
Symphony of a Farm
Turning leaves and the garden’s coda, a colorful backdrop,
An overcast sky, sweater weather, hints of coffee, leather, and morning dew,
Smooth, fresh pages, an empty score, the perfect pen,
The conductor takes her place.
The orchestra warms up:
A light breeze gently moves the porch chimes, nature’s wind section,
A melodic crescendo from bellowing beasties, pausing amid the steady crunch of grass,
Chickens cluck sporadic greetings, accents on the score,
A continuous bass line, courtesy of the barn cats’ steady purr,
The old dog’s wagging tail, tapping a steady beat against the worn Adirondack chair.
Behold, Autumn’s Farm Symphony, the finale of the season!
Maggie Murphy is a lifelong Michigander and modern day renaissance woman. She earned her B.A. from Hillsdale College, attended graduate school at Grand Valley State University, and currently works at Kellogg Community College. Maggie is also the author of the children's book, Sara Dippity, and is a contributor to Smart Women, Smart Money Magazine and Kalamazoo’s Good News Paper. She can often be found performing Irish, Scottish, and Americana folk music, foraging in the woods for ingredients to brew the perfect cup of tea, and running a small farm with her husband.