Monday, January 2, 2017

FARM HAND ~







Our triple hemlocks
photo by Bob Arnold




________________________________________________________



Farm Hand


                                                            for Ted Enslin



FARM HAND
climbed
a tall ladder
with hammer
pocket of
nails two
boards sawn
with a dull
bow saw now
climbs to a
high corner
of the barn
where an old
window lost
long ago of
any glass &
if people
were not
around no
one would
mind this
pigeon that
flies in this
pigeon that
flies out







first 10 years
they told you


second 10 years
they asked you







today scythed the swale
mowed the lawn
lifted the wide barn door
back onto its track
raked bark for kindling
added topsoil turning compost
took on the job to wash all
windows in the big house
looked for grapes under
frosty palm-size leaves
showed the owner how
to hang a birdfeeder







was asked
to build a
footbridge


but really
it was having
to lug by hand


down the steep
pasture & where
there was to ford


a spring runoff
two heavy planks
settled in


for them
all to
walk over






very good
money is
what pays you


& when the
youngest
daughter


living away
from home
took her


life very
good money
didn’t help







heard of
the death
while using a
rake & having
to hold it off
as the father
approached un-
expectedly hugged
you in sobs







you finally
know the folks


when you’ve
twenty-years


grown their
potatoes







everyone is the same —
first week of October
no one talks about anything
but firewood


  



where a
scythe
is used
always
think of
them walking
through







in Spring
the axe laid
down on
barn beam
finished at
splitting for
the season is
picked up right
there in Fall







dug the grave
when their
favorite
cat died
by his favorite
apple tree







flowers
they once
taught you


now you remind
them of their
names







the large
red barn
house-attached
has never been
painted since
you’ve been here







many years
now have
passed


they walk
out to
greet you



_________________

Bob Arnold
ONCE IN VERMONT
Gnomon