The Thatcher’s Old Wisdom

To Herminio, a transhumant thatcher in Asturias
The moon is out and is the thatcher’s time,
when he owns the green valley,
and he owns the great heights.
The broom is green and soft and is the thatcher’s time,
when the bear looks for berries,
and the fox hides in the dark.
I follow the trails of wild capercaillies
in search for the sounds
that the city kills every morning and night.
The masters are arguing on sustainable
theories in concrete constructions.
It pays now to argue
with power points in the city.
While they forget that the thatcher is still out,
twinning green broom and white moonlight
for life.

Carmen O. Menéndez
The Thatcher’s Old Wisdom was a Philadelphia ISP Poetry Convention prizewinner in 2004.
Poem, copyright © 2004 by Carmen O. Menéndez
Appearing on From the Fishouse with permission
Audio file, copyright © 2005, From the Fishouse