While we were looking at this old photo, Mom told me that during the picture-taking, a meadowlark’s song rippled from a nearby fencepost. Danny remarked that the meadowlark was his favorite bird.
Meadowlarks are mentioned a few times throughout Leora’s Letters, but that bittersweet comment embedded a common early spring countryside bird into the family story.
Junior, Foster Field, Spring 1945: He supposed the corn planters were clicking all over the land by then. He bet that Iowa was really pretty. There were meadowlarks on Matagorda but Junior said they didn’t sing right, they “had just one song.” Iowa’s meadowlarks “have at least two songs and they really sound off!!”
Remarkably similar to the Western Meadowlark in colors and pattern, the Eastern Meadowlark has a very different song.
When I asked Nicholas Dowd if he’d contribute a poem for the book, he located the perfect one he’d written decades earlier in college. It’s called “Meadowlark.” Nick grew up in Guthrie Center while Leora Wilson lived there. She knew his father and grandfather!
Its song is at once hopeful and haunting.
Reader (and encourager) Mark Hilliard was moved by the comment about the meadowlark in Leora’s Letters.
So lovely, Joy! 🥰
Thank you, Vicki! My mother was expecting me (hoping for a boy) and was “hiding her shape” behind her sister. I was born two days before D-Day!
Love that! ❤️
Just one of many sweet details that make this book so personal and engaging.
goosebumps Bless you, Dave.
I remember western meadowlarks well as they were the state bird in North Dakota where I spent part of my childhood. Interestingly, they are also the state bird of Kansas, Montana, Wyoming, and Oregon.
Incidentally, I just picked up Leora’s Letters and look forward to reading it sometime next month.
We don’t get to hear them here in town, but for two years, a few red-winged blackbirds have come through with the grackles. Goosebumps, also the music from the ditches along the gravel roads of my childhood. I’m humbled that you will meet Leora and her family (and you’ll find out when I was born–a big birthday comin’ up.)
A heartfelt post, Joy. I remember reading Meadowlark. Beautiful.
Bless you, GP!
I enjoy hearing the meadowlarks here, too. I loved how you described their song as “rippling.”
Thank you, Eilene!
I agree, Eilene. “Rippling” is a perfect word to describe the meadowlark’s song.
I’ve always liked Nick’s poem. It was good to read it again.
I’m still in hopes that his incredible prose and poetry will be published one day!
Danny revealed a tender side of his character when he mentioned the meadowlark being his favorite bird. Learning about their interests really helps define who the Wilson’s are. 🙂
That may be one reason I like Leora’s Dexter Stories so much. Those remembered stories or comments about each person really showed their individual characters. When Dale was thought to be a POW during the war, people made comments that he can get through this if anyone can. Because of the Depression era stories about him, you knew why. Thank you, Nancy.
Thank you. I was just able to start reading “Leora’s Letters” this morning. 🙂