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the old man walks homepushing a cart filled with cansenough for lunch
in the cornerthe giant copper wind bellwaits silently
before the sun risesradiators still heat the housein The County
grass, trees,tiny young strawberries–green is life
a woodpecker pokesthe open door in the treeand finds emptiness
i've learned this:major changes are much easierthan small ones
as "Perfect Day" playsthe old man dances sedatelyinside his head
green grass, green trees,tiny green strawberries--greenness is beauty
the refreshmentof spring waterspoiled by mosquitoes
the truck, the trailer,the boulder in the back yardscream freedom
tomato seedlingsmoving toward maturitylosing their baby leaves
front yard grasssubject to unjust treatment --back yard grass lives free
old woman's facecovered in red blotchesgifts from black flies
cool cleaner air --finally able to catch the breathi've held for five days