| the legs of Maddox kitchen tables my whole life twisted on a lathe in a foreman's torrent my first English was "faster boy if you want your pay" barking commands loud and simple we could all obey then I was forever pulling slivers rubbed the sawdust always deeper in my eye varnish vapor that could linger on my skin it held tight the whine of spinning blades still echoes to bother my sleep at night see that ox stamped dead center on the letter head of the company mail four decades a spitting image |
of the animal I portrayed at Maddox Table a yoke was carved for my neck sun through the window oil spattered and in mason jars tricked plenty seeds thrive the standing joke around the shop was with my green thumb anything'd grow my part was to laugh show and ornery jig had cut it at the knuckle bone see that oxen trademark burned into every stick of furniture from horn to tail four decades a spitting image of the animal I portrayed at Maddox Table a yoke was carved for my neck was tailor made |
