Well-Seasoned Birch - Dec 3 2023

 

Well-Seasoned Birch

Dec 3 2023

Well-seasoned

and even grained

the wood splits easily.

The axe

   —  a honed wedge of tempered steel,

forged, ground, annealed  —

is carried by its own weight

and lands squarely;

a satisfying thwack

as it buries itself

and divides,

following through

to complete its trajectory.

I find my rhythm, piece after piece;

the muscle memory

of measured swing

and hard finish,

working methodically

through the pile.

I take in

the familiar smell

of sawdust and singed wood.

Kick aside

bits of bark and wood chips.

And despite the cold

have doffed my gloves

unzipped my coat.

My collar

is clammy with sweat.

I think about the decades of sun

contained in the fuel

that will burn in hours;

to the tall trees

and their welcome shade.

But winter is coming

and it's no time for sentimentality;

the trees are simply lumber

the wood heat.

The battered axe

is hung back on its peg;

the heavy head

glinting steel

along its sharpened edge,

and the curved hardwood handle,

burnished

from winter-after-winter

of work-hardened hands.

Which are callused and cracked

and cold again.

I feel a chill

and head inside

to kneel before the fire.

Last year's wood,

burning brightly

with the power of a thousand suns.