Quit School
The workers
each one
smiling
talking
joking
faces
in the
sun
the boss
listens
grimaces
worries
can’t wait
to get
back to
He’s Our Son
He’s our son
I’m very proud of him
especially today
he’s come out to work with me
in the woods, along the river
on an island damaged by flood
he’s been gone from home 7 years
been married & divorced
rebuilt his life, now a new girl
he’s also becoming overweight in
a little episode of life we can all make fun
of since he could slide it off in a matter of
weeks, he’s young! out of shape for
the work we are doing — lugging firewood
off this island, across bedrock, fording a creek
and then climbing up stone stairs of the river bank
to the road and dumping our loads countless times
into the back of the pickup truck
countless times, all morning, and it’s all over
his great young man face when he looks at me all
sweaty when we’re done and he exclaims “Jesus!”
Picking His Spots
There’s nothing like coming to bed
on a late summer rainy night
and my love is dead asleep with the rain
and the big male cat is
asleep on my side
All As One
We brought home the wood —
it’s a tradition older than these hills
we brought it from
—————————————
Bob Arnold
BEAUTIFUL DAYS
Longhouse
