On the Way to Des Moines

The first time, we park
across the square
from Jaarsma
Bakery
so

we can walk, stretch our legs
breathe the air outside
the car. Three men
near a truck
filled with
soil

lean on shovels, planting
bulbs in mid-Autumn,
late October
morning sun.
We go
back:

Pella in the spring, brick
sidewalks, red awnings,
purple tulips
everywhere.
Drizzle
falls

and people on the square
turn heads to speak, walk
through the rain in
silent, floured
motion.