marlene mountain
other-line haiku sequence
c 1971-72



land dispute in the hills


old man
   talks about the boundary line
      tobacco juices flowing

another day,
   another red rag
      on the old fence

pointing
   with his cane
      he interprets the law

wrapping, rewrapping
   steel wire
      around rotten posts

tacking in the rain
   another sign
      to keep out

his woman reading
   aloud the stained deeds
      he can't read

from the neutral road
   staring at a scarecrow
      made in his image

 

[[photo of jason/scarecrow]]

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