Posts Tagged ‘well’
fetching water
~
fetching water
~
‘Strength in those arms,’
says Mama. ‘Fetch
me a bucket
of cold water
from the well.’
~
‘Need one of those
pumps,’ says Papa.
‘Painted iron,
hornbeam handle.’
~
‘No need,’ says Thomas.
‘I know how to drop
the bucket
so she fills
the first time.
~
‘Echoes lift
from well-stones.
My face down there,
winks on the water.
Strength in these arms.’
~
~
Copyright 2019 Jane Tims
~
All my best,
Jane
water from the well
an old-style water pump
water from the well
~
taps in the house
running water hot and cold
why did my grandfather
carry in from the well
two pails of water each day?
handle pumped
well primed
~
he filled three buckets
one he poured
half into Dandy’s bowl
half he left beside the well
for the next day’s prime
~
two he lifted to the narrow step
set them down
opened the screen door
with a squeak
shut with satisfying thunder
~
carried the pails into the entry
set them down
settled his cap on a hook
row of hooks made of wire
hangers bent double and painted
~
carried the pails to the white door
a narrow door
with a latch
set them down
opened the door and climbed the stair
returned in a minute or so
carried the pails
into the kitchen
~
set one next to the sink
by the inside door
where I brushed
my teeth in the morning
enameled metal
narrow mirror
one tap for warm water, one for cold
wire basket for a bar of soap
and a bucket of water
cold from the well
~
set one pail in the pantry
narrow room by the woodstove
lined with shelves
counter where my grandfather
kneaded his bread
rolled the crust for pie
metal canister for sugar
ice box for milk and eggs
and a bucket of water
cold from the well
~
© Jane Tims 2011
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