Herb Morse’s Place


A fence with white-washed posts surrounds the house.
Like a page from a child’s adventure book
fields of rabbits, pheasants, dove,deer and grouse;
two barns and a chicken coop that all look
weathered and grey; and deep woods for a dog
and a boy to explore. There’s a tame cow
two big white geese, and hills covered by fog
shrouded trees to climb, and pastures to plow
disk, seed, fertilize, and a sweet surprise
apple orchard just out of view, red paint
delicious, and golden fruit for our eyes
and all our senses shout: great! no complaint!

Then apples rot, the pond drains, one barn’s down
my gut bleeds, prices drop,and Herb leaves town