The Ends of Barns
–after Georgia O’Keeffe, “Ends of Barns” (1922)
Linseed oil and rust mixed to seal barn wood
in burnt tones, in red that held winter’s dark
berried tartness taut, tightened wide-plank pores
against the advance of wind blowing cold,
weather beating boards to surrender such
ruddiness to elements of this day
as the day before when snow had fallen
and the old man, bundled in field coat, cap,
and woolen scarf, a worker’s sheath and shield,
bent his back and set to the task that made
his body a machine, the steady stab
of the shovel, the lift and pitch of drifts,
a path between banks. Now he disappears
within the ends of barns, dreaming of fire.