Monday, January 13, 2020

YOKEL ( 14 ) ~











W O O D C U T T E R
Y O K E L



Tell it slant

    EMILY DICKINSON




Peavey






A good tool

Rarely used

But when used

Can single-handedly

Roll away the world










Manual





Three days into Spring smells more like winter

Watch out, wind low in the woods, no raccoon



When snow falls wet and heavy

You spend two days clearing blowdowns



Birch snapped halfway up, hornbeam might lean

Young straight ashes weak at the tops, cherry splinters



Over like a figure never wanting to die

Chain saw bar greased sizzles



Wham sound through the head

Woodchips down the high boots



Poplar sprouted buds softer than the deer hair

Ringing my poncho hood







Hike






The hike to the village some

Time ago was about two miles

For me one way and often in

Mud or old snow which was

When I did the chain saw work

For people or sometimes built

A stone wall — I’d need my back

Pack for the saw work to haul

Along the fuel jugs, wedges

And in my other hand take an

Axe — the stonework called for

Carrying next to nothing








Planet






Trees down everywhere —

So we cleared the trail

And put the world back into order






______________
Bob Arnold
Yokel
Longhouse
2011