#poem #poetry #amwritign #sketchbook #potatoes

potatoes

you shout above the din
                            tumbling stone
the wire fleshcuts
             your hand
             from thumb to pointer knuckle
     twistingtwistingtwisting
the bag is tied
   and stacked

crank of belt
                 thunder of stones
flashing picking hands
    thunder of stones
        crank of belt
shout for a rat
   backhanded through the flap

twistingwistingtwisting

beat down the sun 
    thunder the stones
suck the blood
    clench paper sack
twistingtwistingtwisting
    you pull the hook
       through the loop
         bind the wire
           stack the sack

get ahead of the work
   take a breather
sucking the blood
   smile at the farmer
wave friendly like
    for the four miles an hour

thunder the stones
    crank the belt
throw out the frogs
    with the back of your hand
    clench the sack
twistingtwistingtwisting
    pull the wire
      stack the sack
                             a ton and half a row

               you lay out on the pallet
               watch the picking women wipe their brows
                   as you swing over the ditch
                                   sun beats down
                                   belt cranks
at the shout - the belt engages
         off you again

         a ton and half
         a row

but at least you ain't picking stones