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Open Poetry #46
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The Shovel and the Mist
| Open Poetry #46 |
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The Shovel and the Mist |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
The shovel has dug his fair share of holes Each a doorway to the long dirt nap Of watching grass grow from the other side It’s how he makes his livin’ For livin’ is diggin’ The years have made him hard Hard as the granite markers Standing testament to his endless employment Hard as the steel sinew in muscles With callused eyes cast in a ceaseless stare That never blinks in the face of Death Hard as the hickory hands That grip the handle of life A handle that shovels Death’s dirt for a livin’ Livin’ in the land of the dead Takes dedication Determination The shovel has plied his trade For nearly half a century A family business picked up from the old man Who dropped the handle some thirty years gone He visits every now and then But they don’t say much The dead aren’t much for talkin’ ‘cept in whispers And the shovel is too busy makin’ vacancies For such vagrancy Such is the shovel’s business On this cold and cloudy morn Shy of the sun’s cleansing sight Where spirit mist still mingles with the cypress and stone Business has brought him to the sacred section of Death’s domain Where father rests nearby Offering advice through echoed memories “Focus on the dig, son. Pay no-never-mind to the mist.” The shovel has always listened to his elders The shovel digs and suffers no distraction But the mist will not be dismissed So close to it’s eldritch home And on this morn it is thick with threat and promise Of the claimed who were less vigilant to their duties The mist has learned well the tricks of the trade Cryptic images in sight and sound Are but the first assault A white silent noise embracing stone sentinels Seeking vengeance upon the trespasser But the shovel gives no-never-mind It’s just white on white And the weight of each full spade Is the only color needed The mist Knowing its nemesis nears the hated horizon Recognizes the challenge And calls its champion forth The lord of the land With scythe in hand To finish business before the day’s banishment is cast To cease the shovel’s sacrilege That has scarred its territory for far too long The shovel senses the presence And heeds his father’s faith Keeping hickory in hand Eyes to the land Mounting defenses of earthen battlements With ditch six-feet deep in dedication Determination The shovel shields himself in service With each spade full of soil Ignoring the icy grip And pitted eyes of enmity Seeking eternal attention The shovel knows not to blink Not to loose sight In this land of mist and stone This land of white on white For to see the coming sun One must seek the soil in sight Until the day is bright When God’s eye banishes night So the shovel keeps his head down Diggin’ For livin’ is diggin’ With final stab before the sun The mist seeks to reap reward in ruin To let run the rust colored rivulets of steel That is the shovel’s life But the mantra is deeply rooted Ingrained in the shovel’s grip That refuses to let go And as the day breaks So does the sound of scythe scoring shovel Leaving scar for scar In this age old war The mist departs the field Abandoning the shovel to his final task There Within the rays of the sun Upon the battle ground Of littered stone and epitaph The shovel stands vigil over the night’s work Gripping life with callused hands He registers another notch upon the hickory handle Another marker raised in recognition Equal to the shovel’s toil Within Death’s soil For livin’ is diggin’ |
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| © Copyright 2010 Andrew Scott - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Very impressive, you wrote this well. Just good to know that spirit can't be shoveled under ... Love, Margherita |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Margherita, thanks for persevering through what is obviously a long read. Your effort and words are much appreciated. I was beginning to think no one would hazard the trek. I guess that sort of echoes the piece. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Hi Andrew Scott ... The shovel personified...as if its life work was to hold the hands of the grave digger as well as the departed. Makes me wonder where you got the idea for this...I like it. |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Yo Andrew, This works well. It takes me to many grave side memories. Bobby |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Hmmm… well, Martie, let’s see. I have to give credit to the Bones poems posted by Robert E. Jordan. He’s the one that got me thinking about shovels. Then I’d have to say I was channeling an older piece I wrote entitled “The Lakeside Shed of Bocephous Jones” from Open Forum 13. It has a similar feel and style. After that, I’d say it was a product of watching the Twilight Zone as a kid. Thanks for reading through and posting your thoughts. I’m glad I could bring such images to mind. Peace. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Hey REJ, you snuck in on me. I have to give you thanks for the idea of writing this. It all started back when you were shoveling snow. Go figure. Thanks again for the read and write. Peace. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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Bastet Member
since 2010-05-07
Posts 246 |
I really like this poem. It has a down to earth quality that reminds me a bit of Whitman. Could also be dramatic monologue, as you seems to be speaking through your main character. An original subject but one that bears bringing up. Well done. |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
I have never read anything like this in my live. This was very, very creative. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Sir Andrew, you certainly know how to call a spade a spade! There are so many lines I could come up with but this piece of writing deserves complete respect. You have taken a subject with so many facets and painted it brilliantly, from the thoughts of death to the thoughts of the man who buries them. The true beauty of the poem is in the flavor you inject into it. It was long and yet I was disappointed when it ended. I wanted it to go on. Absolutely wonderful writing, Sir A. |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Bastet: Whitman!... thanks for that. Glad you enjoyed Earl: To know that I gave somebody something new is very high praise. Thanks for the read and write. Sir Balladeer: I bow to you and yours in gratitude. Truly, your kindness is an inspiration to carry on. Peace. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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threadbear Senior Member
since 2008-07-10
Posts 817Indy |
Really REALLY amazing writing, Andrew. The intricate layers of feelings thrive in your words. Truly inspired. The almost rhyming lines connect with the rest of the verses in a very unique way. I like the style of that considerably. I don't say this often, but this a poem that EVERYONE here in PiP should read at least once. Tip of da hat! Jeff |
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Amaryllis Senior Member
since 2010-05-20
Posts 1306Mi now |
Ah, here it is! . Deliciously creepy and down-to-earth  More superb writing... I truly enjoyed the story, and hadn`t given a thought to it`s `length` as I was engrossed for the entirety! Love the idea of ol` shovel putting a notch in the wood for each spirit he`s vanquished... and the voice of his dead father, strengthening and advising. Great fun, these spooky tales  . Best~ Amaryllis |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Amaryllis: Thanks for diggin' up this piece, and others (my tri-fecta of horror if you will). I know the length can be a deterrent to most, so I appreciate the effort to read and write. I hope they’ve put you into the spirit of the season. |
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Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
Well done Andrew... I didn't find the length a deterent, and like the repitition of some lines as they underline the thought. your trifecta of horror certainly deserves to be read and skill/talent recognized. very nice indeed sir |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Cpat Hair: Thank you for the read and kind words. Right back at'cha on the skill/talent.  "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Love the unorthodox of this. If each of us were to be given the word "shovel," and then asked a poem to write, it would have been interesting what would have been brought forth, each unto our own. Digging shovelfuls of death's new earth is a time honored profession which has given way to machinery now, as are so many time-honored professions. It was wonderful to read this poem of the shovel standing tall against the mist. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Prasad Nataraj Senior Member
since 2008-05-29
Posts 1149Bangalore,India |
fine writing.Enjoyed your wonderful work. "Hardwork pays in the long run" |
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s1nfully_1nn0c3nt Senior Member
since 2003-10-26
Posts 1105Watertown, NY |
When I saw the title I wasn't expecting this to be about well - a shovel and the mist. And I have to admit - I'm not a fan of lengthy pieces, but I found this rather interesting. I was captivated to the end. Enjoyed this.-Trina. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Andrew, you never fail to wow me...and make me strive to do a far better job than what has been written in the past... you make it so good! |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
What a unique ans well thought out poem Andrew. Well worth the long read. Ida |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
JerryPat: Thanks man. When I wrote this I was thinking of your part of the world. Prasad: Thanks for the read and write. Glad you enjoyed. Sinfully: Glad I could capture you to the end. I know these long ones can sometimes be easily passed over, so I appreciate your time and effort. Sunshine: Yours is a quality I've often admired, so your priase in turn is truly the coin of the realm. Thank you. Marchmadness: Why thank you for your use of "unique." I'm glad you enjoyed. To one and all... your reads and writes are much appreciated... especially for such a longer read such as this. You are all an inspiration to carry on. Peace. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Your shovel brought to mind my Dad during the depression. He had a long walk to another town, there to pick up a shovel and use it to clean streets and walks. After a long day he turned in the shovel and had a long walk home. All this for his one dollar a day. But he had children and a wife to feed. I admire him and his fortitude and will always remember the things he had to do. No I did not remember this particular job. It was told to me by my mother in later years. But he was always there to nurture and care. Thanks for the thoughts that poured back to me. latearrival |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Latearrival: My pleasure to provide such memories. It's interesting to discover what some of our parents did to provide in times of great need. I just recently found out that my mother walked several miles everyday to her secretary job, until she could afford to by a vehicle. This went on for about six months. No bus service in our area back in the early 60's. I'm sure your father was a man to be valued. Thanks for looking in. Peace. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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