Saturday, January 1, 2011

The Spring Garden

The old man looked up at Jesse
It was Mr. Crockett, or just Crockett to most..
He walks the roads and has done so for more than 60 years,
"This is one of my grandsons Mr. Jesse, his name is Dewey Dell"..
Crockett and his family live back in the woods,
about a mile beyond Jesse's property line,
a dirt logging road connects them to the main blacktop.

The Crockett clan is poor.
They don't know they are poor,
wouldn't care if you told them they are poor,
but according to the world we live in,
they are poor.
"I see you got you a spring doe Mr. Crockett,
howdy Dewey Dell."

Jesse moved closer and shook Crockett's hand,
then Dewey Dell's worn out mitten..
the boy no older than 6 or 7..
"I hope you don't mind us taking one off your place Jesse,
we tracked a herd of 'em and they led us to your woods."
Jesse looked down at the doe.
"No sir, I don't mind.
Y'all need some help getting her back?"

Jesse led Cisco to the kill,
with the old man's help, they put the deer over the saddle seat and tied her on.

The sun was hidden behind low slow moving clouds,
making the woods dark for it being close to midday..
Mr. Crockett talked about the weather, and his plans for the spring garden..
He held Dewey Dell's hand as they walked through the peaceful woods toward their cabin..
his ancient double barreled shotgun breached and slung over his left shoulder
Jesse led Cisco and mostly listened to the old man rattle on,
all the time thinking about how to best get that bull into his stock trailer..

wkm
Oxford


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