O great predecessor of the hoe,
sister of the mighty mattock
and sidewise axe first felt surreal in glimpse:
A reminisce of most forward rank of teeth
in decisive scrape downward into appleskin mixing
peel with chagrin at lopping meat too much at once.
Great prevaricator of root! Executioner of weed for sake
of happy soil as disturber of insect nests.
Archimedian crowbar sometimes too, lifting by lever means flat and grumpy adamantine stone, and the flatrocks resistant to all chisels laying siege.
Worthy anachronism of bygone age when the where of what commanded us to respect the toughened golden fate of eternal sweat.
