the hoe, the rake and the wheelbarrow

the hoe, the rake, and the wheelbarrow

my constant companions of yesteryear

provided me healing to body, mind

and my soul, transforming also my land

the hoe, the rake, and the wheelbarrow

those simple tools with greater output

fed bigger mouths with larger bellies

grounding me on a very real ground

the hoe, the rake, and the wheelbarrow

the pen and the pencil of humble poor

wrote on pages of the mother earth

for me, the scholar, to read and live well

© henry victor     25.04.2003

from your son

mommy! you made your slim and sensual frame

into a shapeless bundle, bundling my being inside
you for nine long months, keeping me, a worm, warm,
free from hunger and thirst, marks of the world outside;

and today! you struggle to work so hard to remain a mom
of great affection, cuddling me, as you march to a profession
greater, and your time for me is likely to reduce, to dim
like a lamp gathering smoke soot on her facial expression,

like your mom before you, travelling that path of darkness

prior to teaching you skills to swim, to avoid sinking in a pool,
without that settling in a trailer park, to bike and hike, distances
incredible to inspire me, that i may avoid the way of a fool!

henry victor     12.05.2013