Tilde--Her Horn (poem) by Leann Marshall on AuthorsDen

Tilde--Her Horn
by Leann Marshall → (All Poetry by Leann Marshall)
Rated "G" by the Author.

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Powder, patch, and ball She chants what Pop Taught them all And makes the trek to Devil’s Creek-- Enemies to seek Flush out Destroy She drops the bag Upon the ground Lays low for longer Than is needed It is said that They’ve retreated And so She waits Why must they wear red? She muses, just one more thing That so confuses Makes them Simple to see Among bare trees But that’s Her fortune She wonders then When Mama will see The empty rack above the fire Pop’s old squirrel gun gone Knows of her desire The war to be done Her husband Her son You’re a girl Act that way There is mending and washing Valuable things you must Bring to each day No time for dreaming No time for play Things she Would say She is a girl, it’s true But what of honor Darning socks will Earn her none of that Canning yams Will cost her nothing But an apron soiled with sweat No honor No blood There is a rustle In the scrub She grabs the bag ‘Tilde—Her Horn” Measures Pours the powder down Lays lead ball upon patch Uses rod to Quietly tap them Down the Barrel More powder Next to flint One eye shut The other rapt Did I remember powder Before ball?.. A movement A sound ...Cause if I didn’t The only one to fall Will likely be me She waits, palms wet Heart pounds Belly full of birds A sound A movement They’ll see me and Have no mercy! Finger tenses on trigger Begins to squeeze But then She sees A doe She could kill it Bring it home Show Mama She is able Brings food To the table There is honor In that She takes aim again A little to the right Like Pop said Pulls wood to shoulder ...Give us this day Our daily bread, Forgive us... An explosion In her head The doe is dead But no— As smoke, The reek of sulfur Quells the echo from Her ears A flash A frantic dash There is No red Here Stunned, She rocks back against A tree Lets the squirrel gun Fall upon the leaves Thank God She says out loud Thank God You got Away She hoists gun and bag Upon her shoulder Heads home (I will find honor In whatever I do) They seem lighter now Than when she Took them This morning.

Reviewed by Lois Christensen

Reviewed on May 13, 2008

Good loading up of words and glad you ended up coming home without the deer. Mother would be proud of you too for doing that, but you tried hard to please her with meat for the table. It just did not work out, but another time another place I say to you.

Reviewed by Jerry Engler

Reviewed on April 12, 2008

Very interesting twist to go back in time like that. I liked the line, belly full of birds, and the description of what it took to load the weapon. Lucky deer and lucky Andrew's limey ancestors that she went home...Jerry

Reviewed by Mary Patterson

Reviewed on March 12, 2008

Great write. It took me there.. I'm glad the doe got away too........M

Reviewed by Regis Auffray

Reviewed on March 10, 2008

Thank you for sharing this story in your poetic mind, Leann. Well done. Love, peace, and best wishes,

Regis

Reviewed by John Leko

Reviewed on March 9, 2008

...well written words...with meaning...perhaps a detailed lesson learned.
excellent Leann...
John

Reviewed by Andy Turner (Reader)

Reviewed on March 8, 2008

A fab story in rhyme..... Powerful, spec when "thank God you got away".....

Reviewed by Felix Perry

Well done and a story with not only moral impact but with sharp crisp images and well researched information as to that era in time...

Fee

Reviewed by Paul Berube

Leann,

I love the story. A very valuable lesson to be learned. One could say, "Tilde, we are not in Kansas anymore." There isn't any honor or glory in taking a life whether human or animal. Peace, Love and Blessings Always, Paul.

Reviewed by JASMIN HORST SEILER

Reviewed on March 7, 2008

Yes indeed many times we shot at the wrong target for the wrong reason, realizing that, made her a hero in my eyes, they both won, the doe and her. Wonderful and alluringly expressed, with much deep meaning, loved it! Jasmin Horst

‘Tilde—Her Horn”

They’ll see me and

Have no mercy!

Thank God

Thank God

Away