stalwart

The old corn mill on Tidewater Ave, Victoria, VA

Photograph by Robby Batte at Shutterbatte Photography

Stalwart

I remember men poppa called help.

 

They had darkened skin,

imperishable hides

that hung tirelessly on stalwart frames,

 

furrowed faces,

gullied,

erosion by rivers of sweat

over years of day-in-day-out,

dripped off hard lined, chiseled jaws,

 

hands as big flat cakes,

and as strong as rod iron vice grips,

 

the rasp of baritone voices

scratched raw from tobacco-smoke and profanity

that hushed when I drew near,

 

lungs that could process

smoke, red clay dust, gasoline fumes,

silo air, diesel exhaust,

and exhale without wheezing.

 

If my chores were done

Poppa took me with them

to the mill where corn was ground to grain,

and I leaned and perched my heel against the wall

just as they did while we pulled

from Orange Nehis and crunched Nabs .

 

For a while I could pretend

my hands were as strong as vice grips

and my eyes had seen what theirs had seen.

 

Some men changed from year to year,

ramblers and desperados hired on

with just as furrowed skin,

just as gravel voiced,

just as stalwart framed,

just as vacant stares recalling things

they'd never tell.

 

Every evening a judgeless meal in grandma's kitchen

made an equalizer of us all,

where every one reclaimed their manners,

humbly prayed with due respect and folded hands.

 

The evening would set

and they would go their way,

cigarette embers dimmed

as they neared the end of the driveway.

Reviews

[Beccy]

So glad I found this.

Genuinely, not lightly, or just to say it because you might like, (or not,) to hear it, I would rank this pari passu with some of the best American poems it has been my pleasure to read over the years.

A truly descriptive tour de force and one of the few poems I will come back to time and again.

Beccy.

[Bright Ocean Star]

I'm drawn to your poetry...every other day I need to get my fix. I'm usually drawn to the same ones, too....so forgive me if I review a few twice. This poem takes me on a journey to the deep south in the 60s and 70s when orange Nehis were sold in machines in gas stations and old mills. I like being a fly on the wall watching this boy watch these men who have dark eyes who've seen too much and hands as big as flat cakes. Thank you for sharing your work, Xavier. We are all the better for having you here. God bless you

[m.s.early]

Your review sincerely touched my heart Anne. How sweet and compassionate is your heart to me. Thank you so kindly.

[Linda alexander]

where every one reclaimed their manners,
humbly prayed with due respect and folded hands.
Excellent write, well written, thank you for showing the reader the corn mill and the workers and their real core which most of us lack, hard working hands are the hall mark of wisdom and real power, loved it

[BlackRose]

LOOOVE it. Superb detail telling of men who worked hard and weren't ashamed of it and where they came from. But still held their respects at the dinner table. Reminds me of my father who worked hard and still does at times as with the respect he gave and received also for all he earned. Brilliant write.

[Vidya Bacchus]

Xavier this is so great.You come from a place that you can be proud of.Men who were men and who weren't afraid to work :)

[m.s.early]

Thank you Vidya. I am very proud of where I come from. It's hard to get the children here to see it. They are captured with the lights and glamour of far away empires :)

[Vidya Bacchus]

Yes I know what you mean.What mattered so deeply to us is barely worth a thought to them.You want them to feel what you feel but it just is not impacting on them :)

[paddy d daly]

that put the hairs standing on the back of my neck, you come from a place where I come from, a place that no longer exists for me but you took me back, brilliant write xavier, brilliant....

[Rita L. Sev]

You paint the scene perfectly, Xavier, engaging the senses and the emotion. Excellent piece!

[Mia Sparrow]

the description of these men in such minute detail enables me to see them true to life. you really get in there and portray their work life experience. you demonstrate the civility that is inherent to them that others might not know they possessed and you gave them humanity that those who normally dismiss them could see their dignity.

[m.s.early]

Thank you Mia. The eyes of children can see what years can hide from us older ones.

[Frieda P]

You've set this scene in vivid colors and sentiments. Nicely done xavier.

[m.s.early]

Thank you Frieda :)