Finality (Jackson)

FINALITY The farm was lonely, set so far
 * Back from the town;

If neighbors came, he'd rant and rave

If they sat down. And when they went he forced upon
 * Her hateful thought,

And nagged; made ugly use of words

With meaning fraught. Her back was bent with work she'd done
 * Beyond her strength;

For he planned more than she could do

In each day's length. The days seemed all alike to her
 * Until, one day,

She found a blue bird, maimed in wing,

So bright and gay She loved it, cared for it, and soon
 * The bird loved her;

When he came, she would hide it and

It would not stir. One noon he came and caught her with :The bird in play; He killed it right before her in

A fearful way. A neighbor came, to ask about
 * A plough, that night;

He never could forget that strange

And awful sight. She'd used the kitchen knife on him
 * And he was dead;

She sat, a bruised and battered thing

From feet to head, And hummed a little song, or spoke
 * A tender word,

And tried to make blue feathers stay Upon a bird! Winifred Virginia Jackson