Farmer by Ruby Dombek

This piece won top prize for the 2007 Farming prompt contest, an annual contest. The piece was chosen out of about 175 entries; judges were several farmers, students and teachers.

Farmer
By Ruby Dombek
Ferrisburgh Central School, Grade 5

The old farmer,
with overalls
and a no longer white T-shirt,
sits on the porch,
staring
off
in
to
the beautiful dusk.
I press my nose
to the cold window
and stare out.
His face is lined in detailed wrinkles,
as if each wrinkle tells about a story
of hard work.

A tiny white kitten comes over
and curls up next to him.
The farmer heaves himself up,
breaking the stare,
and disappears into the red barn with the missing shingle.
He returns with a small tray of warm milk.
The kitten slurps it up
and mews, as if asking for more.
The farmer sits down with a thud and shakes his head.
The kitten slinks back into the barn,
with a pitiful look on its face.
The tired farmer sighs
and stares
back
off
in
to
the beautiful dusk, once again.