Monday, January 9, 2017

LESSON ~







Black Bear



Who carried the rain on his back

Who we haven’t seen for a very long time

Who knows this

Who ran like me if I ran for my life

Who crossed the wet dirt road without a track

Who had me look over the same place twice

Who mussed the deep pool river

Who reminded me of nothing else

Who crossed the road and hit a vertical bank

Who vanished up that bank of trees and brush venetian

Who isn’t easy to forget

Who isn’t a riddle







Lesson



There was a weasel

In the yard for months



Then one day there was

A hawk in the yard



Only his head moved

In the tree



When the hawk was gone

The weasel was gone






Geese



They squawk & bite

& hit & scream &

Shit in your path

& destroy & you

Chase them into the

Pond in a rage



& they float









She Talks



Standing in a

Chain saw repair

Shop waiting for a



New chain to be

Fitted onto her

Homelite, most of



Us standing close

To the wood stove,

Gloves icy, she



Said how today

Oodles of geese

Flew over her farm





____________________________

Bob Arnold
Once In Vermont
Gnomon Books


photograph by
Two~Hands