Rust Bucket
Not surprising
an antique farm machinery museum
at an Aggie University.
Where else would you
find a home
for rusty old plows?
Tractor- like tanks
from Flanders’ trenches;
tracks still mud filled.
Brought out once a year
to ear- splitting roars
to chew up city pavement.
Lead the parade
with great ceremony-
then back to collect more rust.
What stories they could tell
if given voice
and memory.
Virgin fields turned to
ripe, red tomatoes
and fluttering barley.
Years of useless waiting
unused behind
graying barns.
I would like to talk to these rusty folks
about the new models
with air conditioning.
An oddity to be brought out
once a year and visited
by not overly- interested school children.
A daily realization of obsoleteness;
and increasing rust
a constant reminder of passing time.
Brought out once a year
to lead the parade
of other rusty museum piece.
Doug Minnis
July 2012