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Neighbors in October by David Baker: American Life in Poetry #5

Though many of us were taught that poems have hidden meanings that must be discovered and pried out like the meat from walnuts, a poem is not a puzzle, but an experience. Here David Baker makes a gift to us through his deft description of an ordinary scene. Reading, we accept the experience of a poem and make it a part of our lives, just as we would take in the look of a mountain we passed on a trip. The poet's use of the words "we" and "neighbors" subtly underline the fact that all of us are members of the human community, much alike, facing the changing seasons together.
Neighbors in October

All afternoon his tractor pulls a flat wagon
with bales to the barn, then back to the waiting
chopped field. It trails a feather of smoke.
Down the block we bend with the season:
shoes to polish for a big game,
storm windows to batten or patch.
And how like a field is the whole sky now
that the maples have shed their leaves, too.
It makes us believers—stationed in groups,
leaning on rakes, looking into space. We rub blisters
over billows of leaf smoke. Or stand alone,
bagging gold for the cold days to come.


American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. David Baker's next book, Midwest Eclogue, is forthcoming this fall from W. W. Norton. "Neighbors in October" is reprinted from The Truth about Small Towns, University of Arkansas Press, 1998. Introduction copyright © 2009 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

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  • prochick
    May 21
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    i dont know much about american life but from reading this i observe that american life is hectic but one thing that i share common grounds with is the farming,we do a lot if it here in africa.nice coordination of words..........

  • Skyhawk-Lustrus
    May 21
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    Excellent

    This is wonderful descritpion of the life of western people living off agriculture-farming. Seasons: harvesting, preparation of ground, sowing, rain, growing, harvesting. The major work, harvesting, pulling the tractor, energy skill organisation and plan -Day when man can work(Afternoon). Flat wagon, able to carry many since there is plenty to carry to storage (barn).
    WaitingCperseverance) -this can be even right after planting, waiting for the rain for a sign of growth; the first sprout of green after death.:Every seed as to die for it to reproduce that many that comes from just one seed, if it does not die that creation of new expected of it will be lacking, and it rottens and become a waste -lost. Then there is the pest, rodents, fungi, diseses, to worry about, in waiting, which have to be fought, the youngs have to be looked after, to grow to maturity through weeding, cutting of deing parts, making sure everything is right untill final maturity when harvesting is commencing, questions beging to arise if there would be a good yield for all their effort in waiting.
    Wainting(Perseverance, Discipline, control): during the time of waiting after harvesting when the soil is regenerating renewing its strength. The period to plan, to organsie, sell, rest, and excitement, the changing season. The outside life, Excitment, games fun enjoyment with neighbours and friends and family and strangers and many unknown. Storm-rain for the fertilising soil -growing in nutrient. The sky and the ground how alike they are a reflection of each other their expanse. Lively and green. The workers have shared some of themselves on the ground and plants the bales and billows -blisters, planning for the future or today with bagging Gold.
    Very well written.