Friday afternoon, when the Fed Ex man drops off a package, I ask what he’s seen on his route, his perception of flood damage and how folks are faring. In places, he says, nearly nothing. In others, houses perch over streams.
This stranger keeps going — and I keep asking questions — about his experience in the national guard, a tour in Iraq, and then a month in New Orleans after Katrina.
We’re back in blistering July, and I’m sweaty and dirty from weeding in the garden. On our sandy hillside, this summer the grass flourishes, a benefit of months of rain. I’ve finally mowed the grass (hardly a top priority these days in our house), and that ineffable and sweetly delicious summer scent of cut grass washes around us.
Our conversation bends back to Vermont and our washed-out valleys, how Hardwick’s Walgreens had four feet of mud. He looks at me and ask how tall I am. It’s true; I’m not that much taller than four feet. For a moment, we stand there, two strangers, contemplating four feet of mud. Then he heads to his truck.
Which pieces of our world will go back together, and which won’t? It’s a metaphor for many of us, perhaps.
All the way I have come
all the way I am going
here in the summer field
— Buson
Stony Soil Vermont 
A power-filled voice in 4 ft plus…..continued prayers for beloved Vermont and its people.
Many thanks for this kind comment.
Are those the draft pages of a new novel??
Indeed.
That was very interesting reading and the writing great. It is terrible what happened in Vermont. There seems to be a lot of weather related disasters right now. Here in Texas the temperature has been mostly three digits since the middle of June. My daughter is in Greece right now and there are very bad wild fires, etc.
Crazy, crazy times. Triple digits?? Sweater weather this morning in Vermont.
I spy a novel-in-progress!
Perhaps!
Brett, another perfect pairing of your writing with an ancient poet. I don’t know why but always resonates with me when you do this.
Thank you.
Nancy, Buson is one of my favorite poets. So nice to know you’re enamored, too. Hope all is well in your piece of Vermont.
All is well…we live on a hill, as you do. As you know, our area was relatively spared from the heartbreaking devastation inflicted on so many others.
Happy to hear you’re intact… 🌻