There it was: the find!
Pretty pickaxe leaning
against faded garage wall among
many worn out tools of
rural work: dig—saw—cut—haul—drill—rasp—plane.
dirt—steel—lumber—trees,
Muscles taut:
push—pull–lift—breakup—smooth—sharpen.
Metal head extended,
a ready-set-go
woodpecker,
feathered handle smoothed by
yearsmonthsdays’ effort to
get that something done.
Lift, admire:
future ease of breaking through
decades-packed driveway dirt.
The power of pickaxe,
the line of farmers, foresters, miners behind me,
bending forward,
moving me forward.
The work gets done—always
The work gets done.
About the Author
Alice lives in the Kootenays on the Arrow Lakes enjoying a retired lifestyle. She is taking the second year of a wonderful Selkirk College creative writing course available on Zoom. Her garden, writing, connection with other writers and friends give her life joy and liveliness.
