Vol V, No. 2
March 1979
THE POTBELLIED STO VE I STAND HERE STAID, STABLE, SOLID IN MY BOX OF SAND TO CATCH A STRAY SPARK; MY HUDDLING BROOD, THROUGH THE COLD WINTER, GAVE ME HERE AND THERE A LITTLE MARK. MY AUTUMN S COAT OF FRESH STOVEBLACK NOW FADED AND BROWNED WITH WINTER HEAT; BUT FVE DONE MY DUTY AGAIN, AND AT MY AGE, THAT'S NO MEAN FEAT. AHH, THE HAND-LAUNDERED CLOTHES I'VE DRIED THIS YEAR, HUNG OVER AND ROUND ME; I'VE STRUGGLED HARD TO WARM THE WHOLE CABIN, BUT IT'S A BIG JOB YOU SEE. AND THE FRAIL BODIES I’VE WARMED' CROWING ME AND CRUNCHING THEIR PONE; BUT NOW SPRING IS ACOMING, I'M NOT NEEDED SO MUCH, AND WILL SOON BE GONE. 0H ' NQT GONE FOR GOQ]{), CAST A W A l | | ^ ^ ^UNDLED INTO THE TRASH ALONG THE CREEK; THEY NEED THE SPACE YOU SEE, AND I U p f l *STAND, I'LL GO, EVER SO MEEK. I'LL BE NEEDED AGAIN, SO FOR NOWfETlL SOON BE OUT TO REST IN THE SHED; THE SHED’S ALRIGHT; THOUGH LONELY ' ’HERE, BUT A GOOD ROOF OVERHEAD. YES, THEY'LL NEED THE SPACE NOW, THI LSXfcUGGLING FAMILY OF EIGHT; BUT, NEXT FALL, I’LL BE BACK IN AGAIN, WIT 3 ANOTHER MAKESHIFT GRATE. MORE ROOM, ESPECIALLY PRACTICE WAIjKING ROOM FOR THE NEW LITTLE TOT; BUT I'LL BE BACK AGAIN, SURE
, 'CAUSE I ’M ALL THEY'VE GOT.