A Ride With Allis

In the arms of Allis' Charm

I took a ride one day,

along the graveled country roads

and scented sickled hay.

I could see as kestrels see

perched on a locust post,

postured as that hawk would sit

sighting from his post,

and looked upon the rabbit's head

and down upon the quail

landing on the ditch bank

so nervous and so frail

What a ride it was! I say it was!

Past rock pile and past bale,

putting up the tiny roads

leading through the swales.

I heard the red wing blackbird scold

as I rolled on by his nest

that was woven in the willows

weeping on the ditches crest.

The freshness in the fragrant air

was gentle and so clean

with the sweetened scent of clover

potpourried upon the breeze.

As I drove on through the open air

the hours slipped on by like moments pass

as children play

beneath the sunlit sky.

I so enjoyed my tractor ride

beyond the county line

I didn't measure distance

in the normal frame of time.

Festooned in fancy pumpkin orange

decaled in shiny black,

that old Allis took me home

clear on to Sanilac.

--Pete Rheaume