Gratifying Work



Hay, 1951 by Thomas Hart Benton


Pitchfork in hand
Even as
Calluses smolder

Admiring the sun
Casting it's
Morning light
Kissing the land

Work
Presently
Almost
Complete

Tending that which will
Feed your family
And stead


Dana





Written for Magpie Tales









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Comments

  1. I can feel those smoldering calluses...

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    Replies
    1. A hard days work definitly leaves its marks. Thanks for coming by to read!

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  2. love the last stanza... nice poem...

    JJRod'z

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  3. Lovely. And, it was hard work in those days too.

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    1. Yes it was... I remember my grandfather talking about his cotton growing days. Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. there is a great feeling in honest work like that...and for providing for ones family...

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    1. Yes there is... it's a sense of pride and love for your land (or whatever the work may be)As always... I appreciate you stopping by to read.

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  5. I'm sweating just thinking about it! Thanks for visiting my poem!

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    1. Your welcome... thanks for stopping by to visit mine!

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  6. You have captured the essence of farm life ... I lived it every summer on my grandparent's farm. A lovely, though not easy, time for all.

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    1. I've personally never lived it, but I've heard many stories from my grandfather and mom. Thanks for reading!

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  7. Callouses smoldering was a particular strong image for me.

    =)

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    1. That's the one thing that stood out in my mind about my grandparents stories from picking cotten and working the fields. Their hands took a beating.

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  8. You can feel the satisfaction he gets from his toil. Oh and the smouldering callouses!

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    1. Farmers are lovers of the land. They respect the earth like no other.They take care of her, she takes care of them. Thanks!

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  9. ...and feed them well! Nicely written!

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  10. Blood, sweat and tears kissed by love for the land and the harvest. I love the spirit of this poem Dana and your comments about the hard toils of your Grandparents. A profound tribute to their labors. Thank you for sharing. =D

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    1. Yes... you've got the spirit of the poem!I really appreciate your awesome comment and I'm happy you came by to read.

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~ Walt Whitman

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