After Work


The shack and a few trees
float in the blowing fog

I pull out your blouse,
warm my cold hands
on your breasts.
you laugh and shudder
peeling garlic by the
hot iron stove.
bring in the axe, the rake,
the wood


we'll lean on the wall
against each other
stew simmering on the fire
as it grows dark
drinking wine.

-Gary Snyder



Gary Snyder longs to get home to his wife. He needs to feel her skin on his and taste the sweet tang of the wine they share, along with their unrequitted love. He's working, working but not having his whole mind in it. Gary is day dreaming and is in nostalgia, hoping that when he gets home, all will be well. He is invisioning his happy wife 'laugh and shudder, peeling garlic by the hot iron stove" and this makes him hungry. His wife's cooking is such a good ending to the day. Even being with her is better than the work he has to get through to be home.