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
