Alvah Allen

I have with me my pitchfork, every thirsty, sharpened blade, a scythe my father made.

I’ve got some distance, so I can tell you. It’s Fall now and all the leaves, the only witnesses, green then,

“I’ll be right back,” I said however many years ago and then I stepped out to gather myself,

Would you say it’s better to be useful, to come in handy, to be the rake leaning by the garden gate?

Find a place where the most recent color is beginning to peel and start from there. Chip away that layer until another layer

Is it ok to fall in love with a type of face? Fine-boned like a woman or a bird, Garamond you are mine. Take my words, take

The things I remember are a reef, beautiful and jagged, just below the surface. What she didn’t wear

Vienna, Vienna, Virginia Vienna, Virginia, Virginia Vermont, Vermont, Vermont, vermouth, Virginia, Vienna,

Country-boy meets big-city girl, boy invites girl into truck he’s got a great idea why don’t they get some beer and ride down, preferably, a dirt road, but any back road