&#%*in' Harvest

By Alexandra Queen

Shit damn hell
the memory goes
gnats in eyes and mouth and nose

Shit damn hell
my mind's eye sees
thorns and berries, nettles, bees

Shit damn hell
my memories yield
bushels of taters lugged from the field

Shit damn hell
echoed up from our seats
as we canned tomatoes, peaches, beets

Shit damn hell
was the sound of our sweat and our labor
amiable cursing from family and neighbor

Shit damn hell
we would gripe
putting up what was ripe
mother, aunt, grandfather, wife
gentle expletives of life
trivial curses for trivial reasons
harkening the change in seasons

Shit damn hell
a happy kitchen
full of food and friendly bitchin

Originally appeared 2005-10-03