Mark Haddon
A Tally Stick
The bark is notched six times, one notch
for every cow left in the pound,
then split, the cowman and the poundman
taking half each, so that when
the cowman comes to claim his stock
six cows are led out from the pound
though neither of the men can count.
Connemara 1610:
A cowman spreads his hands and watches
as a priest names all his fingers.
He starts to count potatoes, hens,
the steps across his single field
whose blades the Lord alone can sum.
And then he pauses at the gate one night
and thinks of seven. Not trees. Not dogs
Just seven. Like The Plough
before God put the stars in.
for every cow left in the pound,
then split, the cowman and the poundman
taking half each, so that when
the cowman comes to claim his stock
six cows are led out from the pound
though neither of the men can count.
Connemara 1610:
A cowman spreads his hands and watches
as a priest names all his fingers.
He starts to count potatoes, hens,
the steps across his single field
whose blades the Lord alone can sum.
And then he pauses at the gate one night
and thinks of seven. Not trees. Not dogs
Just seven. Like The Plough
before God put the stars in.
Mark Haddon is the author of 15 children's books, two radio plays and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, winner of the Whitbread Book of the Year 2003.
Page(s) 20
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