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
Behind unused
graying barns.
I would like to talk to the rusty folks
about the new models with sophisticated electronics and air conditioning.
How does it feel to be
a museum piece
outdated and creaky?
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..
Another museum is on campus
for old faculty with tales to tell,
gathering their rust with passing time.
They are the grey gathering
electronic- challenged
obsolete exhibit of passing time.
Interesting stories to tell -
not too relevant in the
days of the internet.
Brought out once a year
to lead the parade
of other rusty museum pieces.
Doug Minnis
November 7, 2011