. . . IN A WOOD
BOB ARNOLD
THE WOODCUTTER TALKS
Long before the great ships at sea
There were the deep inland forests
I stand in one today knee-deep in snow
10 degrees with a wind
My saw shut-down
Oil freeze to bar and gloves
Listening awhile to the ships at sea
The long groaning waves
High high
Above me
THE CREEPY CRAWL
There's a stink in the old farmhouse
Maybe a dead squirrel or rat or could it be a cat?
We've a hot water kettle on the woodstove
With apples and cinammon
Nutmeg
Be patient with it
It takes a long time for a life to disappear
PAY ATTENTION
It'd be
so cold
we'd warm
our clothes
right on the
woodstove
not near
the stove
on the
stove
be quick
about it
AN OLD TRUCK IN A FIELD
He said he’d be right down to
Buy the VW pickup truck two
Weeks ago and never has shown up.
Two days ago the same. Yesterday the same.
The same today. Tonight as we supper
Soup and sandwiches around the fire
He left a slow mumbling message how
He would be out here tomorrow but
We were already past that in mind. I
Could see that as I looked over to you
Who looked over to me. The truck
Down in the field still in the rain.
A quarter-century old and barely any rust to it.
Never ever had to buy a new a muffler.
Made in Germany.
When we started it after two years stone cold
A rat ran out from his home around the engine.
HEAVENLY RING
Tonight —
because of her
because of me
& the telescope
I bought for her
birthday and she
has become so adept
she calls me out into
the chill spring eve to
look straight up
through lenses to a
miraculous visitation
with Saturn, of all places
WORK SONG
We carried the saw and ax to the top of the hill
Hop-hornbeam logs waiting dry off the ground
I cut the logs into firewood size and split each one
You do the ground work, keep everything in order
We stack the splits into heavy canvas sacks
Carry it all down a trail under trees of meadowy leaves
I’m in love with you who is love with me
The woodshed at home is filled to the brim
I’m in love with you who is love with me
photos © bob & susan arnold
