If you look more carefully, than I did originally at the photo, the caption describes "Grocery boy leaning on basket of peaches, Muskogee, Oklahoma." I wrote this poem from the point of view of a farmer, not a grocery store employee in 1939. This is probably largely from the gripping experience of listening to Kristen Hannah's 'The Four Winds,' this summer.
For sure, the grocery boy has a story impacted by life in 1939...but it's probably not the same as a farmer boy.
It might not be a big deal in the grand scheme of drafting a poem for Poetry Friday...but...it's important to me that I represent the photo more accurately. This poem is getting a re-write!
You are forgiven… because it is this kind of hope — the -grocery store workers and farmers facing down dust and despair of the late 1930’s — that raised us and gives us an inkling of what it means to work when hard things are hard. 💝
Linda, "peach by peach / bushel by bushel" is a thought that would be so appropriate during the Dust Bowl. So many needed to address their problems. The haibun prose piece is a wonderful narrative. Best wishes with your rewrite.
I love that you shared this even as you realized there was an "inaccuracy". Grocery boy or farmer, you did a stellar job of bringing this young man to life and evoking a time long past. I was swept away into his world. You are such a haibun master!
I think your haibun is a good read and captures much, regardless of the city or farmer pov. rough times were all around and your poem echoes that well. You held me and took me somewhere else, thanks Linda! Ah School, as I end teaching my summer studio art classes, my art appreciation class starts a week from Monday, good luck with yours, thanks!
I love imagining you coming to this realization on the way to work and yet you bravely posted anyway. The Dust Bowl days are hard to imagine. Kristen Hannah’s book was terribly tragic as is Out of the Dust. You have managed to capture the desperation as well as a sense of hope.
The Four Winds is so easy to get caught up in, Linda. I see how your POV could have easily been altered. Still, your words represent the struggle of the times. I have had this happen to me with poems. Thank you for sharing your realization. It makes me feel like I'm in great company!
If you look more carefully, than I did originally at the photo, the caption describes "Grocery boy leaning on basket of peaches, Muskogee, Oklahoma." I wrote this poem from the point of view of a farmer, not a grocery store employee in 1939. This is probably largely from the gripping experience of listening to Kristen Hannah's 'The Four Winds,' this summer.
For sure, the grocery boy has a story impacted by life in 1939...but it's probably not the same as a farmer boy.
It might not be a big deal in the grand scheme of drafting a poem for Poetry Friday...but...it's important to me that I represent the photo more accurately. This poem is getting a re-write!
You are forgiven… because it is this kind of hope — the -grocery store workers and farmers facing down dust and despair of the late 1930’s — that raised us and gives us an inkling of what it means to work when hard things are hard. 💝
Your interpretation is heartfelt and true to you, Linda. You captured the character well, evoking much emotion.
Linda, "peach by peach / bushel by bushel" is a thought that would be so appropriate during the Dust Bowl. So many needed to address their problems. The haibun prose piece is a wonderful narrative. Best wishes with your rewrite.
I love that you shared this even as you realized there was an "inaccuracy". Grocery boy or farmer, you did a stellar job of bringing this young man to life and evoking a time long past. I was swept away into his world. You are such a haibun master!
I think your haibun is a good read and captures much, regardless of the city or farmer pov. rough times were all around and your poem echoes that well. You held me and took me somewhere else, thanks Linda! Ah School, as I end teaching my summer studio art classes, my art appreciation class starts a week from Monday, good luck with yours, thanks!
I've had that happen to me! More than once :) Very evocative details, Linda. Nice work, even if it undergoes a redo.
I love imagining you coming to this realization on the way to work and yet you bravely posted anyway. The Dust Bowl days are hard to imagine. Kristen Hannah’s book was terribly tragic as is Out of the Dust. You have managed to capture the desperation as well as a sense of hope.
The Four Winds is so easy to get caught up in, Linda. I see how your POV could have easily been altered. Still, your words represent the struggle of the times. I have had this happen to me with poems. Thank you for sharing your realization. It makes me feel like I'm in great company!