Yardwork

Once again, life was unkind to Gary.

So he went to the shed,

poured gasoline,

checked the oil indicator, the chain tension,

Put on ear protection.

Outside, the dead ash trees are like a flock of zombies.

His weapon of choice is the chainsaw,

Swedish-made, Husqvarna 136.

He marks one out.

Considers the lean, 

the force & direction of the wind.

He makes sure the ground is clear of hazards.

Pulls the rip cord 

and the sharp saw revvs in Swedish—

both feet planted on the ground and a firm grip slides the catch,

holds the trigger switch

and Gary buzzes into the trunk at 10,000 RPMs—

chips blow out the back 

as he cuts the notch.

The saw chuffs and grumbles while he steps back, notes the effect,

walks around, revvs and rips the back cut.

In the fall line is the boss’s truck

the ex-girlfriend’s cat

the portable from grade four

and a boulder 

the shape of Joe Biden’s face.

The big tree falls with a testosterone crash.

Then Gary straightens up and looks for his next mark,

as if he were a man 

doing the yardwork.

—March 2023

Text: Jeffrey Hynds

Photography: Wlad Figueiredo