Old Carpenter

By Alta Carson

He keeps the trappings of his trade and wears
Hammer, rule, an apron full of nails,
A pencil in his cap, the handy squares,
But does small jobs, at which he seldom fails.
He is too old to climb the scaffolding
Or set the joists and uprights each in place.
He watches others heft the beam and swing
The rafters to the loft. His weathered face
Records the progress of the younger men;
A scowl at error and a nod for skill.
Because of his great age they are as children
In need of counsel and advising, still.
His talents lessened, will to use them grows –
And the old ways were better; that he knows.

(1955)