Stone Fences
Along the country roads
Still strong they march.
Rocks fitted with intricate care,
Pieced together rock by stone,
Without the help of mortar
A century or more ago
By farmers who ploughed the
Glacial moraine of New England
To plant subsistence crops
Of beans and peas, corn
And potatoes and beets, and
Hay for their animals,
Digging and hauling
The rocks from the stony soil.
Sweating and straining their
Weary muscles to hoist the
Heavy, awkward shapes
Into just the right niche.
They marked boundaries,
Kept animals in their fields,
Protected gardens and chickens
From marauders in the night.
Still they stand strong,
Those ancient rock walls,
Lichen covered and weathered,
Enduring the freezing rain
And ice and snow of winter,
The thunderstorms of summer.
Stoic reminders of the
Stubborn persistence of
Those who, with ox and cart,
Wrestled farms from the
Hard and unforgiving land
And built stone fences.
Along the country roads
Still strong they march.
Rocks fitted with intricate care,
Pieced together rock by stone,
Without the help of mortar
A century or more ago
By farmers who ploughed the
Glacial moraine of New England
To plant subsistence crops
Of beans and peas, corn
And potatoes and beets, and
Hay for their animals,
Digging and hauling
The rocks from the stony soil.
Sweating and straining their
Weary muscles to hoist the
Heavy, awkward shapes
Into just the right niche.
They marked boundaries,
Kept animals in their fields,
Protected gardens and chickens
From marauders in the night.
Still they stand strong,
Those ancient rock walls,
Lichen covered and weathered,
Enduring the freezing rain
And ice and snow of winter,
The thunderstorms of summer.
Stoic reminders of the
Stubborn persistence of
Those who, with ox and cart,
Wrestled farms from the
Hard and unforgiving land
And built stone fences.
Copyright © Barbara Peckham | Year Posted 2021
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment