| Honored by: | Carole Sue Gray |
| Brick location: | C:4 map |
POET AND FRIEND.
IOWA CHILD by Sarah Hall Maney
I am an Iowa Child; Part and product of the land on which I grew. Flat and open and straight like the farm roads that bordered the corn. Friendly and receptive like the rich black soil that grows the corn. Simple and plain but productive like the fields of soy beans and hay. Yes, I am an Iowa child. There have been times when I have kept it hidden; Pretending somewhere, something, someone else; But today I stand with it, Drawing upon the strength of it- Acknowledging the unique gifts I share with it. Of course, an Iowa Child has not many deep intriguing forests within- Not many clear refreshing lakes to draw upon No lofty grand mountain peaks to soar from. No yawning canyons to descend- And I know my Iowa child must live And come to terms with the part of me. That is controlled precise yearning to be perfect- Like the squared-off ruler-straight rows of hybrid seed corn. Perhaps I will never be as exciting as spontaneous as a tumbling Colorado mountain stream, As magnificent as a crashing Califomia ocean wave, As serene and stately as a Minnesota pine tree; But no matter- I am who I am An Iowa child... And that is enough.
9/24/94