because it's October...Pig Roast, Country Style

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Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2008-10-08 09:43 PM

Pig Roast, Country Style

He had signed on for a week’s work,
the rancher needing
one more pair of hands to finish up the barn –
a hired hand for just food and board, with
a bunkhouse keeping dry some drifters’ dreams.

Konrad wondered
why the rancher’s wife kept coming
to the back door of her house
during the first part of the week, just
to watch, with expectant eyes
eyeing all the men in their stoop,
stand, hammer motions,
until Wednesday morning,

when she came out, spoke quietly to
her husband, turning from his face
to the hired men, back to him,
then smiling when he nodded, for she grinned,
eagerly, and it seemed the sun broke out
from her smile, that cool October morn…

Konrad warmed under that smile, not having
any idea why he should, just that it looked
so agreeable
in her husband’s eyes, that smile,
a kind of lingering good hope that
would result in everyone having one quality day,
all because of a happy woman…

the rancher sauntered over
saying to the hired hands, “if you can all stay on
till the weekend, we’d like to have you join
us, a few neighbors will be over,
annual pig roast, you know.”

Without waiting for an answer, just accepting
gaunt smiles and hungry bellies reason enough for wanting
to accept, he ambled on to his own chores.
Konrad watched, as the weathered faces
of the other two hired hands
seemed eager for Saturday night,
perhaps they had been through this way before,
possibly their stomachs knew what to expect.

On Friday, the rancher commented, “no more real
work to be done, boys, y’all did a fine job,”
so when Saturday came, soon enough,
the barn was ready, but Konrad wanted
to pitch in, although the pig’s roast
was family routine, etched in decades
of tradition, so after some morning help
of setting up tables, chairs, large chests for ice,
and hauling wood for the pit,
he hung back to watch…

and the air smelled October good, snappish,
like plucked apples just before being crisped, browned
and bettied, Konrad took up the curved plastic seat
and settled into comfort during late afternoon,

and he sat back, watching the fall blue highway,
as horsetails crossed the sky, tails in full plume of gallop,
remembering his rides in life,
his eagerness to get out of the chute of home,
away from Iambe’s truthful eyes,
but missing Dillon’s cooking,

and not grieving the loss of Jake’s taunts.

Dusk came quietly, pinkly on the eastern
horizon, blazing gold on the western slopes,
a wake-up to get ready for sleep type
feel in the air, and the neighbors began
to stream in, bringing covered dishes
of Midwest heritage, all smelling of ancient recipes…
and Konrad remembering which dishes the
rancher’s wife brought to the table.

Konrad held back, noting a few Jake-types
among the men, not seeing any Iambes in their
women, but very aware that
the air was reminiscent of Dillon’s perfumed
kitchen from the rancher’s wife’s offerings,
and as the line of eager eaters wound
short, he surveyed the groaning tables laden
with love, and sampled all of the hands’
gatherings, doubled up on her portions,
which led to the hitching loose of
his belt buckle, one notch…two notches…

and his dessert was one more helping
of pig and her red potato salad, a handshake
with the rancher, a nod to the wife,
and a walk to the highway, replete of the
week, jotting in his mind’s eye
his observations of her face,
for the stories yet to come.

© krj
10-6-2002

" It matters not this distance now " Excerpt, Yesterday's Love
~*~
KRJ

Oklahoma Rose
Senior Member

since 2008-02-28

Posts 1586
Oklahoma USA

1 posted 2008-10-08 10:18 PM

Karilea, you are the best story teller. I do enjoy reading them. I've never been to a pig roast.

LindsayP
Member Elite

since 2007-07-28

Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria

2 posted 2008-10-08 11:24 PM

Great story Karilea, you wrote it well.
We went to a hungi once, a NZ Maori feast where they cook everything in a pit in the ground with the fire on top. Beautiful roast pig. Love Lindsay

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

3 posted 2008-10-10 11:05 AM

Sue, you need to attend at least one...

Lindsay...thank you!

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

4 posted 2008-10-11 12:43 PM

Wonderful story, Karilea - and I want to join in and lick my greasy fingers. I want to be there too.

Alison

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant

since 2000-01-29

Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia

5 posted 2008-10-11 02:00 AM

Karilea... this was a wonderful story... I loved it from start to finish! love RDB

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

Magnus

Member Laureate

since 2001-10-10

Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA

6 posted 2008-10-11 04:14 PM

Even vintage KRJ is totally appropriate
for the moment... Do enjoy your stories.

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

7 posted 2008-10-11 05:30 PM

Yo Sunshine,

Nice tale. Hows about a nice Porchetta, city style roast pig.

Love Bobby

1slick_lady
Member Ascendant

since 2000-12-22

Posts 6088
standing on a shadow's lace

8 posted 2008-10-11 05:39 PM

awesome
i have missed konrad and the others
great story telling poetess
you are an incredible writer

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

9 posted 2008-10-11 06:18 PM

You brought this tradition across the page with great vividness, dear Karilea.

Brought back memories too.

Giving grace for the pigs who allow such gatherings by ... moving on.

Love and joy.
Margherita

"Love is the One who masters all things;
I am mastered totally by Love."
(Rumi)

icebox
Member Elite

since 2003-05-03

Posts 4383
in the shadows

10 posted 2008-10-11 07:23 PM

...just...

wow!

Rick
Member Elite

since 2001-06-21

Posts 2903
Victoria, Australia

11 posted 2008-10-11 07:32 PM

Sunshine, this was a wonderful story, had me watching for the next line and its tale, thank you so much for sharing, much enjoyed.

Rick

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

12 posted 2008-10-12 11:26 AM

I've just one question... *S*

When is your next book coming out? *S* I don't want to pressure you or anything, but... I can't wait! *S*

Bill Charles
Member Patricius

since 2000-07-11

Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now

13 posted 2008-10-12 03:36 PM

Sunshine - didn't know you have written a book. I can see why, you write very well...

BC

Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural

14 posted 2008-10-14 06:49 PM

I love October, all the scents and beautiful colors!!!

ARCTIC WIND

The Lady
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-12-26

Posts 7634
The Southwest

15 posted 2008-10-15 02:49 PM

ahh Karilea
it's all about the turn of a phrase
and the way you do it

"and the air smelled October good, snappish,
like plucked apples just before being crisped, browned
and bettied,"

puts me right there

that's what a real storyteller does

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