The lawnmower
Kendall Merriam was born and raised in Rockland. He has a history degree from Gordon College and pursued graduate studies in military and maritime history at the University of Maine at Orono and Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Conn. He received grants to study historical research at Colonial Williamsburg and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. (Carlo portrait)
Kendall Merriam was born and raised in Rockland. He has a history degree from Gordon College and pursued graduate studies in military and maritime history at the University of Maine at Orono and Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Conn. He received grants to study historical research at Colonial Williamsburg and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. (Carlo portrait)
For Barbara and Terry
On the occasion of their Open House
Anticipating an evenly mowed lawn
powered by legs, directed by hands
it is, of course, my father’s story
and those of a million men and women
saving gas, building muscle
getting acquainted with your yard
most don’t bother with any more
John Deere captures the attention
at several thousand per
enough to buy Brown Cows
the rest of their lifetimes
But Terry and Barbara
coming from high, hard work
like the quiet nicker and slide
that gives a pleasant trip
to time and again
where they learn
how to make Metinic Island lemonade
how satisfying, how lovely
how glad friends are
that restoration takes place
not only with saw, hammer
nails and brushes
filled with colors
that their Gods and Goddesses give
but it restores their minds
to have a small space
controlled by hand tools
which pleases each spear of grass
bringing a bit of green haven
Kendall Merriam, Home, June 25, 2016 1:16 p.m.
Listening to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass “Going Places” and The Young Bloods “Elephant Mountain”
Event Date
Address
United States
