Marguerite Guzman Bouvard: Portrait of a Farmer by Vincent Van Gogh

His hand are folded over the top of 
an implement, but his eyes
and expression draw us into
his world, so many seasons with
their own languages and response, 
weariness, and a sorrow we cannot 
turn away from because it is so
powerful, reminding us of the depth, 
breadth and weight of a life that
turns with the years, filled with 
demands we are unable to
ignore. His eyes draw us into 
his inner being, experiences
that so many of us are unaware
of or simply turn away from.
But he holds a world which
includes the sky, the earth
and the knowledge of how
to walk through trying times 
head on with so much 
strength and dignity. 

---

_{Marguerite Guzman Bouvard is the author of 12 books of poetry, two of which have won awards including The MassBook Award for Poetry. Her latest book of poems Shades of Meaning appeared in late February 2022. Her poems have been widely published around the world such as in Sukoon and the Deronda Review. She is a former professor of Poetry, Political Theory and International Relations.Her website is http://www.margueritegbouvard.net}