Old Farmhand Remembers
by Marcel Aime Duclos

Long after the last cut of hay
shed its dust in the dairy barn       and

the funeral cards lay tucked
in the heirloom cherry wood roll up desk

you sailed clear of the boundary line       and
south into the next county

eyed the sun       invisible compass
drawing you south to the oyamels


He loved you       "Stronger
than my team of Percherons," he often said

Today       in October       I swear I saw you
in the widow's flower garden

south side of the gray farmhouse
alone       undisturbed by my presence

Tonight       I walk the upper pasture
milkweeds bent for winter       and

pray you will stay a day or two
show yourself to her

He often told me he would return       and
visit as Monarch


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