Thorn Apple Reflections
I was deep in the forest, where the mighty shagbark hickory and sugar maple tower above and remind you how small you are. I could see ahead another stand of huge hemlocks, woven in among the fallen ones. Hemlocks are tipsy sort of tree, the Mt Hunger winds bring many to the ground to feed the forest floor. I could see the sunshine futher ahead, a clearing I wasn’t expecting. As I left the hardwoods and fought through the blackcaps and roses, I saw it. A mounument to the failure of some family’s work from long ago. Chest high goldenrod and thorn apple trees. The surest sign of a dream gone bad, the thorn apple tree was slowly reclaiming the land. The edges of the once apon a time feild were dotted with piles of feild stone. Some locost posts still stood, telling me that this was a pasture of some kind. I can almost see cows munching grass. Making pasture out woodland is hard work, no small task. Judging by the size of the thorn apples, the drama played out long ago. Did they use draft horses? Perhaps an old Farmall H or a team of fine hillbilly mules. Did father and son work here together, what did mother send with them for lunch? Where are they now? Do any of their decendents know or care? I’m only left with questions as pick my way back home.
April 7th, 2007 at 10:02 am
I missed your silence after the essay writing contest, but I figured you guys had your hands full with spring chores around the homestead. I hope the essay contest becomes an annual event in some form or another.
I loved this post. It is so poetic, bittersweet, and full of insight.
I was going to plant some lettuce seeds in our garden, but we had a bit of snow yesterday and I am too much of a wimp to dig around in the dirt when it’s below freezing! Ha! Some Christian agrarian I’d make!!
Resurrection Day blessings to you and your clan from my clan.