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Do your chores old man,
And never stop.
The winter was hard,
Spring turns the clock.
The loam is gravy dark,
Sun stirs the blood like soup.
Get your shovel and barrow from the shed,
Sharpen and oil your tools.
You’re thinner and grayer,
Than last you were seen.
Shambling through the flower beds,
In gloves and baggy jeans.
You pause to feel the lake breeze,
Touch your sunken cheek,
Dry the sweat from your brow.
The crested Blue Jay in the tree -
Squeaks and trills for his mate,
You look up to spot the wildlife.
It's been a while since reciting the prayer,
After burying your beloved wife.
Like the snow she disappeared in layers,
While you tended her in linen.
Dusted the furniture, swept the floor,
Counted the hours she'd be given.
These days you get fresh air,
Hum a tune and turn the sod.
Slowly retreat into yourself,
Do your chores and curse God.
I like a good narrative poem. This one has some evocative descriptions ... we can clearly see the old man in his work clothes, trudging along at his outdoor chores. There are some nice rhymes, and interesting near-rhymes. Nature itself reflects his mood and temperament, the painful re-birth of spring ("April is the cruelest month ...")_following a long, harsh winter. The blue-jay, like the old man, is crying for his mate. We feel for this old man, and empathize with him, his stoic acceptance of his situation in life, and the strength he has, that we all somehow manage to muster, to carry on with the mundane day-to-day activities of life in the face of pain, loss, loneliness and the ever present awareness of our own mortality.
ReplyDeleteTom Hanks is always good. We saw him in a movie not too long ago called "A Man Called Otto" which this poem reminds me of. If you haven't seen it, I recommend that you do.
Thanks for the kind words and comprehension. I thought you might take exception to the ending.
DeleteNah. Cursing God is not recommended, and it never seems to do anybody any good, but I can perfectly understand the motivation behind it.
ReplyDelete