Exodus

A dented and paint-worn 

red metal bucket

half-full with water

its spaghetti thin handle

squeaky when lifted

dug painfully into the fingers

of the aged man's callused hands

his face leather-like

almost as wrinkly as

his stained and dirty 

over-all's from years of

farming

slightly off-balance 

he struggled to tilt and fill

all he could into

the dilapidated truck's 

warm radiator

without spilling a drop

praying silently it

gets him and his family to

California - 

100 miles further on 

route 66

people spoke of

jobs, 

plenty of them

far from dust-soaked air

from degradation

and poverty

half-way there

the dream ended in

steam that rose to heaven

like smoke signals

for help

Jesus saves

read a nearby billboard

with hope and persistence

feeling as rotten

as parched soil

and a lump in his belly

as big as Oklahoma 

no one prayed more

to Jesus that night

than an aged man

with callused 

dry hands

Author's Note

I don't know about this. Posted for now.
Depression era.

Reviews

[Kelly Scheppers]

Why the doubt, Tim? This is finely crafted, stirring and beautifully written. You captured the era of depression as if you lived it. I applaud you for this one. I love it!

[Relic]

Thanks Kelly. Sometimes a poem has to sit a while before you're happy with it.

[Marie]

Your poetic pen is on fire in this exquisite poem depicting a time in history which was very difficult to survive in. You narrate the story so finely, dear R and through the visual detail you sketch a picture of an elderly gentleman farmer trying to make his way with his family in hope of a better way of life for them all. Sadly, his tractor broke down and the poor man spent the night praying to Jesus for help. Very poignant story, dear R. I would love if you had a follow-up poem so your reader could learn if the gentleman's prayers were answered with a good job and a better way of life for him and his dear family. I love this story, dear. We learn so much for hard and difficult changes in life and I believe if we can accept them, we become better, more resilient and stronger. Love the simile and other figures of speech. With a grateful heart, I thank you for sharing this very insightful and meaningful poem. Sublime inking, dear R...

[Relic]

Thank you so much, Marie. I'm grateful for your comment. :)

[Marie]

Most welcome always, dear R. Love reading your poetic works of art...

[Pete]

old route 66 - highway of hope and dreams during the depression. how many of us have called out to him in times of trouble. this is so well told and written. excellent writing, amazingly touching and telling. bravo.

[Relic]

Thanks so much, Pete. :)

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Very cool depiction of the thirties. On April 14th 1935 a dust storm carrying over 3 million tons of sand and soil swept across the Oklahoma panhandle into the great plains devastating the ecology in the middle of the great depression...Biblical woes were falling on lots of folks. I thought this was fabulous.

[Relic]

I'm grateful for you comment, Fabian. Thank you. :)

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Reading was like watching a mini documentary dissolved into a singular personal experience. Brilliant writing, my friend.

[Relic]

Wow, thanks. :)))

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the poem. Reminded me of the old days, maybe the hard days. I liked how you used the words and you took me with you. Thank you my friend for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Relic]

I appreciate your words, Coyote. Thank you. :)

[John the Baptist]

Has a Steinbeck sound, this one. Those people beat the depression and then won ww2. Hard times breed tough people.

[Relic]

Yes, they do John. Thank you.

[Sami Khalil]

Those were tough times for that generation, but they created tough and resilient people. I like how your title compares the plight of your family to the plight of ancient Hebrews. Some made it big, others did not. Any way, they were grateful.

[Relic]

Yes, they were, thank you for the comment, Sami. :)

[Sami Khalil]

Yes siiiirrrrr. You are welcome.

[Poetic Beauty]

Before I read your notes; this made me think of the depression or the gold mining movement. Either way I’m sure he prayed and prayed harder still. So much poverty, so little work to be found. The hardships and trials seemed endless and I’m sure this was his last grasping hope for a better life.

This has strong mental visuals and I can almost picture dried parched land and a man sweating and thin from being malnourished. A rusty old trick that the dooor squeak when opened and the list goes on. Well done

[Relic]

I'm grateful for your comment, PB. Thanks. :)

[Thomas W Case]

Yes. This reminds me of Steinbeck. Great work. You capture the scene.

[Relic]

Thank you, Thomas. :)

[Aluppi Jampur]

Very good and yes immediately I am reminded of depression Era and think of grapes of wrath if you know it, old classic.

[Relic]

Oh yes, I remember Henry Fonda's I'll be everywhere speech. Great movie for sure. Thanks for the comment. Much appreciated. :)

[Aluppi Jampur]

Oh. I didn't know about the movie. I read the book by Steinbeck. But it's probably same story.

[Relic]

I read the book many years ago and was shocked by the ending in the farm house.

[Aluppi Jampur]

Was that the breast milk part?

[Relic]

Yeah, I was a bit shocked when reading it. It showed the desperation and poverty they went through.

[Aluppi Jampur]

Yes. I found it similarly shocking but understood the desperation. These stories are wonderful in offering us views we may not understand.

[Relic]

They are. We don't realize how lucky we are.