Red Wheelbarrow
So much depended on
my neighbourıs red wheelbarrow
while I shifted this winterıs
delivery of split redgum
from the side gate where it glowed
in the sun, through the garden
round our weatherboard house
to the dark side
where the plumbing is
and the gas fittings,
there to stack it, hard up
against the paling fence.
As much depended on
my sixty-six year old
muscles and grip
on the red wooden handles
and eye to aim us just
between the narrow gateway
reversing by the kennel
where I stow twigs for kindling
on past the dry-stone wall
edging one false move
and stones get dislodged.
False moves there were,
followed by quick-fix kicks.
Much depended on
my stout walking shoes
my tracksuit steaming up
my care to avoid splinters
in my bare hands.
While wife and dog watched
from bed! Much depended
on my patience
my tolerance
and the tea and cake
she soon called me in for.
A hundred dollarsı worth of wood!
forty or fifty fires maybe
plus the work-glow lit in me.
- Max Richards at Cooee, North Balwyn, Melbourne
8.30am, Wednesday but a weekend snap...
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