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Willows Remember

by Glenn Currier

Willow willow swishing
your long lime feathers
you wake the ghosts of summer
still stuck in the bayou mud
their feet heavy
like granite eggs
laid by the mountains
of FDR proletariat labor
to save the oaks.

Chocolate green arms reach grandly
in all directions
pointing to fractured families
rusty dilapidated dreams
nearly abandoned
in the anomic fog
crawled into their spirits
dark as the conscience
of greedy Wall Street traders.

A pale knotted old thane
a hint of disdain
thin and reedy intoned
“Those boys didn’t do nothing
but sponge off the gubermint.”
I turned fiery-eyed glaring:
My daddy
saved those oaks
in your pretty city park

Planted trees along your roads
a smidgen of dignity
salvaged in honest
sweat rebuilding your parish
reweaving the fabric
of your country.
Clip your tongue
you ungracious dolt
hang your shameless head.

Willows swishing whispering
ghostly refrains
squeezed from weary muscles
played on tired bones
shadows around a fire
laughter echoing in oak
daddy’s harmonica quavering
soft and dulcet
Genie with the light brown hair.

09/01/2009

Author's Note: The Civilian Conversation Corps had a big camp in St. Martinville, Louisiana where my daddy met and courted my mother-to-be.

Posted on 09/02/2009
Copyright © 2024 Glenn Currier

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Gregory O'Neill on 09/02/09 at 04:01 AM

"Long lime fingers" and "anomic fog" are just two ideas I like in this rich poem. The voice is strong and speaks of that symbiotically relationship of trees and people, and the history gives geat depth. Delighted. Thank you for this.

Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 09/02/09 at 01:34 PM

A notable reflection on a piece of the Depression. I even remember the WPA (a lesser "cousin" of the CCC)!

Posted by Charlie Morgan on 09/02/09 at 05:03 PM

...willows like elephants, never forget, man[alas]forgets yesterday...love the voice in this...a by-golly by-gum at 'cha[them] great write, glenn.

Posted by Dave Fitzgerald on 09/03/09 at 10:36 PM

The words bring you in with an almost tongue twister attraction that draw you on. Great write Glenn. Thanks

Posted by Elizabeth Jill on 09/04/09 at 01:42 PM

Clip your tongue
you ungracious dolt
hang your shameless head.

All of this poem surpasses excellent. Thank you for this masterpiece.
Posted by Elizabeth Jill on 09/04/09 at 01:43 PM

(That verse portion I quoted from your poem just rolls me over. I love it. LOVE it!)

Posted by Charles E Minshall on 09/04/09 at 04:52 PM

Great poem Glenn. Reminds me of my Dad and things he did....CharMin

Posted by Tony Whitaker on 09/07/09 at 02:43 AM

Like Charlie, this throws me back to my youth when my dad, a construction worker all his life, spoke of the old CCC camps, started by FDR.

Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 09/08/09 at 02:58 AM

Flawless in how this grips the reader, tapping history and bringing it back to life along side these willows, and making it very personal with your father's harmonica and "Genie with the light brown hair."

Posted by A. Paige White on 09/10/09 at 10:01 PM

Gorgeous Glenn!

Posted by Ken Harnisch on 09/11/09 at 04:56 AM

just splendid imagery from word one to the last, Glenn. I am in awe.

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