Real Life
It
was a hot day thrown suddenly cool
By
that hard rain, poured off the slate roof barn
When
the boy was hit by lightning.
Standing
safe, he thought, in the large doorway,
Eaves
above him tapping,
Farm
trucks shining up.
Big
for his age, father’s overalls, watching things,
Whole
complexion tan like pure maple syrup
The
stuff he gathered with his grandfather and horses.
His
old man and older brothers stoke and boil the wood fire,
Spend
those long nights in the sugar house.
The
way the light spills out of the small steamy windows
All
over snow, dreamy in the valley.
Well
a mean bolt came down from the sky to end that,
A
splitting axe flying.
Water
dripping smooth from the roof edge
Splashes
onto his boots and cuffs,
Hayseed
still itching his back,
Cows
poking behind him in their stalls.
Need
a light already it’s getting so dark, he thought —
Struck
him from the forehead straight down
Cracked
him open like nothing should be.
The
family dog lay nearby on a broken bale
Like
he has for 15 Julys,
Large
head on his paws tilted and watching
Rain
burning the ground.
_____________________
Bob Arnold
WHERE RIVERS MEET
