The windmill reached toward the sky,
Its blades turned fast around.
Water pumped for all to drink,
From deep within the ground.
The tower stood in classic form
While tested by the years.
A witness to life passing by,
Of all the happiness and tears..
The weathered boards had seen some wear.
The tin blades had long since browned,
The water was still cold and clean,
Flowing through rusty pipe stuck in the ground.
The windmill's time has come and gone,
And it's importance can't be denied.
It's silhouette stands tall against the sun.
Like a sentry filled with pride.
When settlers first stood up the tower,
For all around to see.
They knew without this water source,
Some things would never be.
(c) 2017 Edward York
-
Author:
lasergraph (
Offline) - Published: September 18th, 2017 14:38
- Comment from author about the poem: I grew up in rural Texas and saw wind mills dot the landscapes. Some are still used to feed cattle out on the range.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 30
- Users favorite of this poem: Accidental Poet
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Comments11
Very nicely written and so accurate, reminding us of the past and where we come from. Without these windmills there would not have been any farming. Don't know if replacing them with diesel engine pumps can really be called progress!
Kind of funny we replaced windmills with mechanical pumps and yet we dot the landscape with wind generators for electricity. There are lots of wind farms in my area, Amarillo Texas. Wind generators however do have the same character. They look too industrial.
Windmill is one of the most important invention using nature power. It was such a harmony between human and nature. Nice writing.
They have character, like an old barn or old covered bridge.
Interesting how such an early 'clean energy device' has been resurrected. "Nothing new under the sun."
the new wind generators look industrial. They don't have any character. I am surrounded by both windmill types. In Amarillo, we don't have a shortage of wind.
Great tribute to a bygone age and the wisdom of the pioneers , very good poem
I can see the cows gathered around the stock tank feed by one now.
Here in UK there are still a few of the really old windmills which still function. They are a truly majestic sight on the landscape. I think they were mostly used to mill the grains rather than irrigate the land.
Your words conjured up pictures of UK landscape, ive never seen stateside ones.
I am sure the ones in the US were brought over originally from Europe and most especially from the UK. Our roots and yours intertwine. Nothing quite like the scene of a windmill at sunset.
Very good L .Water is indeed a most precious natural resource!
Excellent write lasergraph. Reminds me of a water tower in the town I grew up in. The Lawson Tower was built 1901 - 1902 to cover a water tank inside. Great poem here.
Most small towns had a big water tank that serves the community and I am sure the older ones have been in place for many decades. I think the early ones were all uncovered but were covered later. A lot of places paint school mascots on the water tower.
I'll post a photograph of the Lawson Tower as soon as I've acquired enough points to do so. This tower was covered right after it was built with a wooden structure resembling a castle tower in Germany along the Rhine River. It's a beautiful tower. ; )
It sounds like it. Can't wait to see.
Very beautiful poem, great discription.
just reflecting back to the "good ole Days.
Very nice writing. I only have seen windmills in pictures. They look somewhat nostalgic to me. Thanks for this poem. Nice to read about.
They are a blast from the past. They have a unique character. I have a thing for old light houses as well.
Windmills are beautiful to see and seeing a windmill in the evening sun is an awesome sight, unfortunately here in the UK they are becoming rare to see. Good write and tribute to a wonderful invention of the past.
They are getting rare in the US as well. Still in use some here where I am. Amarillo is the middle of cattle country. Windmills are still an efficient way to provide water in the stock tanks where cows come to drink. The hard part is keeping them thawed out in winter.
I've uploaded a photo and poem about that water tower. If you like, you may take a look. ; )
Thank you. You have some remarkable photos, I am a lighthouse buff as well, love those images.
Thank you, I grew up in a town with 2 lighthouses so by default I'm a lighthouse nut. Been inside a few of them around my area. ; )
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