Poem: Of Hammers and Fences

Of Hammers and Fences

The fence is broken,
allowed over time
and on purpose,
to fall into neglect,

each slat slowly snapping
and falling to the side
allowing any in
who wish to come,

children and lovers,
those who are kind
and those who threaten
by slowly nibbling

away at your soul,
and you wonder at the wisdom
of a world without fences,
and for a moment,

think of repairing the neglect,
gathering your tools in anticipation
until, standing there
you change your mind

and begin instead
to pull off the broken slats,
and taking your iron hammer
to the braces, shattering them,

deciding not to rebuild,
or to let the fence slowly die,
but instead to remove it
altogether.

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The picture was taken in Wells, Vermont, a few miles from my home. You can click on it for a larger version.

Tom