Uncle Abel
Uncle Abel
Enoch and his father were working up ground for potatoes
On their spread in the Land of Nod
When Enoch said,
“Dad, what happened to Uncle Abel?”
It was a risk to speak at all.
His father was so often quiet in the fields.
Some days from the time they threw the tools
Into the bed of the truck to the time
They went home, he wouldn’t say a word.
Nor did he now.
But the way his father was working,
Bringing the sharp hoe down
Upon the helpless ground
Sprawled out on its back
Was the answer.