the pause

the cows out
there
are large. some white.
some black and white.
spotted brown.
some chewing. heads
bent to the green grass.
some stare in the distance
off to where the white hills
rise. gazing
at nothing
in particular.
their tails wag
in the sunlight.
we slow the car
and look out
at them across the white
rails of an old fence
that needs tending.
we say nothing.
our thoughts too are
far away.
we pull back onto
the road and drive,
there are places we
need be.