The Sawyer

"My Dad - The Sawyer"

A sawyer he was
And the great saw whined and screamed.
The sawdust flew
In the heat of the hot white sun.
Crossties rolled with the canthook's swing,
And the crows flew high on the wing.
Two by fours, and two by eights
And lumber in yellowed stacks
Tree limbs severed by pole-axe hacks.
Mingled with odors of gasoline,
Planed red cedar, fit for a queen.
Walnut sawed rough
With a deep red vein.
Work and pain
From the sins of Cain.
And the smell in the air
From the heart of the pine,
Intoxicated the mind.
Sweet as the honeysuckle vine.
Round and round
The great blade rolled
And the logs of cherry
Lay sliced and shaved.
The great saw sang so merry
Locusts say Pharaoh
In the Queen Anne's lace
The sawyer wiped sweat
From a sun-bronzed face
An Angel-choir sang "Amazing Grace."