Harmony at Bedlam by Mary Kellogg

Harmony at Bedlam
By Mary Kellogg

The creek drops to
step dance under the dirt bridge
inviting me
to travel farther
where the farmhouse waits
with its broad welcoming porch

four bounding bodies erupt
Rose, Izzy, Pearl and Clem
with eager barks of joy
come in, come in

donkeys watch with soulful eyes
begging carrots and back rubs
they lean into me
expectant and confident

calico cat stretches and yawns her contentment
donkey nose sweeps daringly close
she swats it gently

sheep scattered on the hill
munch peacefully
oblivious
border collie Rose, alert to their wandering
herds them towards the gate
Rose rests and watches proudly
her charges safely gathered in

Winston flashes his magnificent comb
and flaunts his plume tail
puffed up and pompous he crows
"I have work to do"

Elvis, a bovine, big as a boulder
levels his huge liquid eyes at me
sniffs with his bulbous wet nose
and calmly takes an apple offered

the farm
a portrait of peace
a lesson in tolerance
a network of harmony