This Iowa field, this Iowa day.
I stand in the midst of flowers
green grasses waving,
sun’s warmth soaking my skin.
Double hollyhocks stand tall.
Gaillardia faces blush,
edged in sherbet yellow ruffles.
Ethereal clouds float lazily,
cotton ball fluffs
like white misshapen dots
on seersucker blue sky.
Newly painted barn gleams
surrounded by emerald shrubs,
trees and hills.
Ah yes, Iowa,
you are indeed the heartland,
loved by so many.
We’ve not lived in Iowa since 1997, but oh the glorious memories we have of our days there. From teaching in a small rural high school, to owning our first home on 30 acres of land, to raising our children in a University town and earning my PhD there. Iowa is known as the Heartland – we surely found it that.
Photo is from Nancy Mast who often posts Iowa farm photos.
lillian the home poet 
So lovely, an ode to a state. As they asked in FIELD OF DREAMS, “is this heaven?” answer was,”No, this is Iowa”.
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My dad grew up in Cedar Rapids. He had a Grant Wood landscape print in his study and I was so enthralled with its rolling, settled plenty. Thanks for the fullness again.
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A beautiful heartland. I specially love this part:
seersucker blue sky.
Newly painted barn gleams
surrounded by emerald shrubs,
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Lovely way to take us all there for a visit.
I especially liked
“Ethereal clouds float lazily,
cotton ball fluffs
like white misshapen dots
on seersucker blue sky”
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Gorgeous descriptions of a wondrous place….”sherbet yellow ruffles”, and “seersucker blue sky” Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve even heard the word, “seersucker”. How creative. I’ve never been to Iowa but it seems lovely!
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What a beautiful love song to Iowa Lillian and I’ve learned a new word in ‘seersucker’ too xxx
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Every line of your beautiful write applies to my own home in the heartland in Illinois, to the hollyhocks that bloomed beyond the yard fence, and the gallardia, zinnia and petunias that edged my mother’s garden. The photo takes me back as well. Now I’m homesick!!
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Ahh, this is so beautiful! It really makes me want to go to Iowa now. 😀
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You took me there. The colors, the liveliness of nature, the almost surreal sky – Iowa – the heartland! You made me feel it.
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Beautiful imagery – I am especially fond of this line
edged in sherbet yellow ruffles.
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I always feel renewed when I return to farm country. (Central IL for me)
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Gorgeous photo with a gorgeous poem to describe it. Those clouds are so beautiful and more and more mean rain, welcomed rain. I’m guessing it was tough to leave all of that behind.
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Beautifully said about our wonderful state! So glad you enjoyed your time here, as i certainly enjoyed time with you.
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I love your beautiful nostalgic poem. Your descriptions and images are wonderful. It is heartland for sure!
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Ah! beautiful nature 🙂
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Well, I’ve never been there, but you certainly brought it to life for me, Lillian! How beautiful it sounds and looks 💐
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Felt it, Lillian! Thanks.
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Love this!
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Beautiful picture, even more beautiful words, Lill! Come and see us on our Iowa prairie sometime. Yesterday we had the privilege watching three monarchs emerging from chrysalis on swamp milkweed in the sand prairie we’ve been nurturing next to the house. Ah, Iowa….
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Glorious indeed – beautifully rendered memories.
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You took me there Lillian and what a splendid time I had!!!! I’m a born Midwestern gal ……
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You paint a beautiful picture.
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What a lovely ode to Iowa. I love these phrases:
“cotton ball puffs”
“seersucker blue sky”
“sherbet yellow ruffles”
You get taste the summer in this 🙂
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You captured the image with your words so beautifully! I hope your memories reflect the same. Beautiful poem.
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