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

[Fia Naturie]

Very sad, so if I felt it you hit your mark. People spoke of jobs but are there really any to be had? That is a nice spill. Fia xoxo

[Relic]

Thanks so much for your comment, Fia. :)

[Ayvid N]

"with hope and persistence
feeling as rotten
as parched soil
and a lump in his belly
as big as Oklahoma "

His pain can be felt in the strong, stark imagery of despair. At an age when he should be comfortable and settled and retired, he still struggles for his life. The Depression was a very dark time, indeed. So many were destroyed and their prayers unheard.

A powerful and moving portrayal!

[Relic]

Thanks for the comment, Divya. :)