Sugar Bush Spring
The forest is a humdrum
of activity, crunching snow
endures chain-laced
tractor tires, and
relentless in its forward march,
an old 80 hp
Massey-Ferguson crawls
along the branch-snapping
road, lugging a
wagon load of supplies
maple sugar land now alive
with motion-
at destination’s camp
experienced hands prepare
tubing for flowing sap,
replace firebrick
in the evaporator, start up
tapping drills.
And day’s end is blue plastic
winding around the hill
spiles linking hundreds of
hardy maple trees,
trenches in snow no longer
filled with anxious feet, a
forest now at peace
shadows overcome the
campsite that disappears
at evening’s twilight.
Nature is a silent whisper
that reclaims her space.
© 2002 Richard L. Provencher
All Rights Reserved
first published 2003 Summer Edition
Vol 52 No 1 Tower Poetry Society
Hamilton, Ontario ISSN 0495-9701
University of Hamilton
Comments
Beeme | August 14, 2009 - 12:46
Another brilliant poem, Richard. I enjoyed this and it's rich in imagery;
'shadows overcome the campsite that disappears at evening’s twilight.'
'blue plastic winding around the hill'
'Nature is a silent whisper that reclaims her space.'
Just stunning, well done!
Beeme xx :-)
Richard L. Prov... | August 14, 2009 - 15:15
Phew, thank you. Such a joy to read this lovely note. I strive to look at a situation from different pairs of eyes and my thump-thump of the heart changes beats like the lilting and escalating call of the loon, my favourite, and wild outdoor bird. I discovered a cache of old, published poems and feel so happy to share them, of which the above is one of them. Blessings on you today, Richard LP