Red berries gleam in silver
metal. A bucket
with orange rusty handle stands
alone by the old slave
wall that follows the narrow twisting
road that leads to Sandstone Falls.
metal. A bucket
with orange rusty handle stands
alone by the old slave
wall that follows the narrow twisting
road that leads to Sandstone Falls.
Beside the river, the road,
the wall, the bucket
she stoops, gray hair shining
with sweat as she searches
for berries whose thorns
rip her flannel shirt and skin
as she fills her bucket
to the brim.
“Best be watchful of snakes,” I say.
“Snakes?”
She answers, smiling.
“That’s what this hoe is for.”
O my...such beautiful pics. Dumb question but did you take these or get them from somewhere else?
ReplyDeleteMore beautiful photos. Love them.
ReplyDeleteI took them in 2005 and 2007 when I was storytelling in the Hinton, WV area. Sandstone Falls is a lovely place.
ReplyDelete"Beside the river, the road,
ReplyDeletethe wall, the bucket".
I like that. I like the poem. And the photos.
Thank you, Nance and Peggy.
ReplyDeleteI wish you could see the place. Three big rivers come together there, and the whole area is just beautiful.