A Dakota Veteran’s Commendation

by Wollom A. Jensen

Dakota sun shines yellow.

Amber barley ripens in neatly sewn ranks

dressed and covered beneath it.

His battle truck rattles to a halt, dust settling around him.

Ramrod straight he inspects the bearded grass. His field is clean, no mustard or wild oats.

Like his truck he straddles two worlds;

one of grass, the other of stone.

All is quiet on the front except his raspy breathing

and the breeze cutting through the barley beards.

Drums are muffled, swords held low,

slow march tempo, as he moves from traveled road to field.

The barley cedes its moisture,

a silent offering to the summer sun.

A final pass in review and silently he makes his own oblation

of sweat and breath.

Experienced in the ways of war and farming he understands that

soon the ripened barley will be harvested and so must he.

The fallen barley will be consumed as bread with wine, and thanksgiving.

He to rest alone in silence beneath the soil he worked and the flag he loved.

WOLLOM A. JENSEN, the grandson of Norwegian immigrants, was born and raised on a farm near Park River where he graduated from the Walsh County Agricultural School in 1966 and from the University of North Dakota with a B.A. in English in 1972.