Drought

As a daughter of farmers I really can relate to this poem although to me, it had a slightly different meaning, a bit more surreal, which is great as it makes the poem more universal. The imagery is fantastic and you immediately sucked me in with the interesting and easy to understand vocabulary. Lines like:
clutch at my faded denim
like lost and hungry children.

like a lunatic, praying in
a patchwork perdition.

patterns of loss so close,
like a child’s blanket.

and the whole second stanza struck me as particularly colourful and expressive. The images you paint are vivid and emotional and stick to the consciousness of the reader. In the first three stanzas there's hardly any word that breaks the flow, at least on my opinion. One word that didn't quite work for me is "perpetually". I would substitute it for something which expresses more cruelty. Also, I don't know if you've considered it, but I think adding more sound to the poem could make it not only more realistic but also much more impressive.

I have to say, though, that the build-up you create in the first three stanzas somewhat fades towards the end - the second half of the fourth stanza and the last two lines. The repetition of "memories" puzzled me. If you put it there on purpose then you should emphasize that purpose further because it doesn't show; if not, then the flow would benefit from removing the second one. All in all, the last four lines of the fourth stanza are a bit too wordy, even though the idea expressed there can work as a nice ending. But it just isn't as intense as the rest, isn't as vivid. If I were you, I'd try using a metaphor for hope or an allegory. Distinct descriptions seem to work very well with this idea so why abandon them towards the end?
As about the last two lines, I've seen similar expressions too many times before to be impressed. The same concept can be depicted in a lot of more original and descriptive ways. Also I'd consider finding an especially striking element from the surroundings that would shock the reader and make them want to read more. That element could either serve as a contrasting point to the rest of the poem (for example suddenly running across a ripper and a tractor driver kissing, despite the previously described desperation of the scene) or further emphasize the feeling (for example seeing a corpse of an animal).
I absolutely adore this work and the only reason I'm not giving you five points in each section is because of the certain disappointment I felt about the ending. I expected something more striking.
Please, keep in mind that these are only suggestions and opinions you can choose to either put into use or ignore. You're the author after all.
Regards,
D