(A day in the life living in the forest on the Pacific Coast during a drought, sending kids to school (ages 3, 7, 8), working as a carpenter, September, 1985. The 3-year-old who went to his first day of school is now 19, hair in dreadlocks, college. And on the coast, the whales still swim, the artichokes still grow.)
though we slept
touching
only when we wake
do I notice
sleek silk, so white
but no time
for love
five pees, one flush, saves water
his first day in the carpool
so little!
so brave!
alone I drive a bed
of garbage
coasting on country road
under raining redwood needles
passing sleepy-eyed cattle
apple harvest
too busy to stop
for beauty
so sad, bright toys
among rotten roofing
at the dump
but what a view!
sky without end
cauliflower clouds
stuck on mountains
cotton strings of surf
at Big Creek Lumber
buying a piece
of forest
"Did you see? A whale!"
"Nope." As he loads
my boards
I want to miss nothing
bouncing home
overloaded bed full
of sliced wood
wind shoves like a rude boy
artichoke man
mustache
wide hat
rolling pipe
water sprays
fishing boats bobbing bath toys
lighthouse flash
driftwood beaches
here comes fog
cut and hammer
splinters rip
ragged fingers:
Attack of the Trees
starring Doug Fir
with Red Wood
and introducing
Penny Nail
sawdust hair
brown dandruff
on my plate
he liked the carpool
she got a new book at reading
The Gingerbread Boy
not man
but boy
homegrown tomatoes
juice runs
down chin
"You coming to bed?"
"Not yet."
under blankets
try to wait, fight sleep, wondering
will she wear it again?
morning comes
the answer
wake, wake
with the smooth
touch of silk.
9/24/85
© Copyright 2001 by Joe CottonwoodNext: City Life