Huw Knoyle
Hill Farm
The window refreshed in afternoon rain
Opened to the October night,
A silver cloud shifted moonlight around
To a cold grave on a windy hill,
Edges of leaves as sharp as memories
Rushed in and surrounded him.
She was there by the barn, feeding geese,
Then walking across a disapppearing field,
Then cutting logs for the winter fire,
Then carrying a bible dressed in her best.
She was everywhere.
As the window closed out the night,
From the wall, she stared him in the face.
Her pale skin and red hair stood out,
Her green eyes, full of hill life,
And the carved wood she held her own work.
No doubt she’d been a young beauty,
The cluster around her supported the fact.
She’d carried him everywhere with her,
Moulded him into her own image,
Prepared him for the farm,
Yet there is nothing of her in the dark
mirror,
But she must be there, among the X’s and Y’s.
He heard her voice demand it.
“Soak the grease up with the bread”
She’d said, with slight impatience.
She’d wanted to use her strong hands
Alongside the men in the scent of recent rain,
No favour asked, none granted,
Except in the salting of the pig.
Her curse denied it.
He is freed from the hold,
When a small bundle cries itself
Out of the smell of wool,
And in his role of carrier, smiles at green
eyes,
Strokes the red hair tenderly
And kisses familiar looking pale skin.
Page(s) 115
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