Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Barn Charm #70, and a Poem "The Tobacco Farmers"




These two photos are for "Barn Charm #70".  I assume they are both old tobacco barns as they stand in a field that used to yield the crop.  These relics are tucked away in numerous places, some overgrown with brush, others given much TLC and charmingly grace the roadside. 

I have posted the barn below before in the fall.  The poem below I posted for "Poetry Jam" about a month ago - the photo was a prompt suggested for the theme "Laugh in the Face of Everything".  I posted it here as I thought it went well with the theme.


The Tobacco Farmers

Back in the day
he was a dashing young man, 
and I a country girl, willowy and strong,
both of us full of zest and glee,
first generation polish stock, we.
Toiled side by side, 
he decapitating flowers and
suckers stalk after stalk, 
stooped, sometimes crawling
between row upon row 
of never-ending filth.
I hoed and hoed, black
calloused hands better than gloves.
Every hour or so, his glance, a smile
would lighten my load.
Mid morning break, 8:45, 
already exhausted
somehow kept going 'till high noon
clothes soaked through,
we’d lean our backs 
against solitary bleached barn.
Oh, the blessed shade, our haven 
in the middle of hell
and we’d consider ourselves lucky
if a snake sighted, the bigger
the better, for we felt reassured
the monstrous rats would be
held at bay for another day.
And so precious minutes, we rested
hands tingling, swollen
blisters burst, pink, tender
skin didn’t stand a chance 
of ever remaining baby soft.
Back into the field, 
never enough water
to quench our thirst
often feeling dizzy and nauseous,
flamethrower upon our backs. 
Times were tough
possessions few,
but my Matka she tell us
“Enjoy this freedom” 
and so we did
dignity, self respect, and laughter
filled all our days.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, January 12, 2012

* * * * *
Farm Security Admin.,  Jack Delano, photographer

14 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

once again, that bottom photo just makes me smile! :)

love the barns, too!

Laurie Kolp said...

I guess everything's bearable with that kind of outlook.

Kim, USA said...

I so love that last photo. It just remind me that no matter what kind of work you have if you are happy with what you are doing you are happy!! thanks for sharing and happy Wednesday.

Red Barn

Susie Clevenger said...

This brings back such memories...growing up in Missouri I was surrounded by tobacco fields and barns...love the photos too..great piece on American farm life.

Anonymous said...

What a hoot, that last pic! LoL!
The tobacco barns are so cool, wouldn't mind exploring them! Fantabulous poem, too!!! =)

Thanks so much for joining this week's Barn Charm =)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Love these barn photographs and your poem is great, makes you think of what life was like amongst the fields and barns.

Debbie said...

they both make me smile :))))

Pamela Gordon said...

Great barn photos. The poem reminds me of the difficulty and hardship of the farm labourers years ago. I know it probably hasn't changed so much today but the water might be colder. I enjoyed your photos. Pamela

Theresa Wysocki said...

I was wondering if it was ok to enter photos of tobacco barns. Sorry, I'm new to Tricia's Barn Charm.
These are really great photos and the poem is amazing! I love it!

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

I like the pictures of the tobacco barns. The poem reminds me of how hard the work used to be on the farm.
Thanks for stopping by. Glad you liked my barn and the windmill.

Tanya Breese said...

everything about this is just beautiful!

Margaret said...

Thank you for enjoying my poem. It is one of my favorites to date that I have written.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

you know i think i suggested to you to link up with barn charm ... & you already do ... oops ... my bad. but i love you work. thanks, for sharing. (:

Carole said...

That certainly is 'tucked away'. Great shot. :-)