Sunday, October 25, 2015

I wrote this poem

AN OLD MAN AND HIS TRACTORS
Donna Wood
October 25, 2015
dedicated to my husband, Clifford Wood

When I first met my husband he was quite the city guy.
He liked curvy women and fast cars and apple pie.
He told me we should marry, that I'd never come to harm.
But once our vows were spoken, he moved me to the farm.
We had to find a tractor, for a pasture must be mowed.
So we bought a rusty old Moline a little down the road.
And once we got a tractor, Cliff was bitten by the bug,
A slave to an obsession that's as bad as any drug.

     Now a young man with a tractor doesn't have a lot of time
     He has a job and family and can't spare an extra dime
     But if God grants him time enough, when he is old and gray
     He'll have a lot of tractors, and be smiling every day.

Cliff wakes up each morning with tractors on his mind.
Each day he searches Craigslist to see what he can find.
There's old John Deeres and Farmalls and Cockshutts and Molines
All he ever thinks about is rusty old machines.
His overalls are greasy, and his fingernails are, too.
As he beats on some old relic fifty years this side of new.
Don't think a tractor's hopeless when he's taking it apart,
Cause give him just a day or two, you'll hear that engine start.

     An old man with his tractor is a wonder to behold.
     He'll touch a rusty fender like it's something made of gold.
     I really can't explain it and I cannot tell you why,
     But an old man with a tractor is a special kind of guy.

Some men disappear and make you wonder where they've been,
But when Cliff disappears, I know he's in the shop again.
Old men that love tractors are the kind that stick around
They won't give up on marriage and they'll never let you down.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I've found it's not so bad
We've joined up with a tractor club. There's good times to be had.
I've surely learned the secret how to keep my husband mellow
Cause an old man with a tractor is a mighty happy fellow.

     An old man with his tractor is a wonder to behold.
     He'll touch a leaky fuel tank like it's something made of gold.
     I really can't explain it and I cannot tell you why,
     But an old man with a tractor is a special kind of guy.




6 comments:

  1. Love it! I'm still smiling, thanks to you.

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  2. Great job ! That is a great poem and certainly says a lot about your guy. You are a blessed lady for sure.

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  3. I love it! Truer words were never spoken, especially in rhyme. Nice job. Charlie W.

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  4. I love it! You do such a great job and what a wonderful tribute to Cliff :-) Don't stop writing anymore. Wendy

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  5. Oh wow! That was SO good!!!

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  6. It's a wonderful poem! I have no experience with the subject- men and their tractors, but you've opened a vivid word picture for me to see and appreciate something new. Isn't that what good writing is about? : )

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