Story of a Woodsman

One fine day is a poem that my mom wrote about me. She wrote it after I had a chainsaw kicked back and the end of the spinning chain was then stuck in my throat. It was not a day I would like to relive !
She first published this poem in Logging Magazine in the late 1980's right after it happened. I have put it on the web for the world to see. I knew I was working on a dangerous tree that day, but I thought I had it under control.  I guess in hindsight, it boils down to the fact the the chainsaw was stronger and faster than me.

One Fine Day

   The chainsaw kicked. He never saw it come,
  Nor felt the impact where the chain bit through.
   He only KNEW. And yanking quickly down,
   He pulled the bloody chainbar from his neck
   And headed for the tractor, stumbling, faint.
 
   A nearby friend in horror gasped and threw
   The tools into the trailer on the run
   Then hopped the fender by his wounded friend
   Who drove them out tight clinging to the wheel
   To keep from passing out as waves of black
   Swept over him and, fought against, gave up.
 
   The ambulance was swift and bore him far.
   He joked along the way to keep his cool.
   But then they left him sitting in ER
   Where interns came to view his gaping hole
   And ask, "How could a chainsaw cut your neck?!"
   To hear, incredibly, the flip reply
 "It slipped while I was shaving." But his thoughts
   Grew more impatient as the hours passed.
 And when they finally came to tend his wound,
   The natural anesthesia of the shock
   Had given way to searing pain as they
 Injected novocaine to start repairs
 On all the ragged chunks and jagged tears.
 
 The plastic surgeon stitched, and pieced, and stitched.
 "After this heals," the plastic surgeon said,
 "There'll be a lot of scars. I'll see you back."
  "You wanna bet? No way!" he told the doc.
 "My beard'll grow back in, an' I ain't vain."
 And still the surgeon stitched and ceased to count.
 "That chain went deep, and almost did you in.
 Just missed your windpipe and your jugular vein.
 Another centimeter either way
 You wouldn't be just 'treated and released'."
 Like well-trained parrots all the staff chimed in,
 "You sure were lucky!" "Yeah, some luck," he thought,
 As nimble fingers stitched, and pieced, and stitched.

   He didn't feel so lucky, nor would they,
   If faced with days of idleness and pain,
 And no insurance. Still, he was alive.
 And she could go apply for medicaid.
 And friends would come and help. And he could rest.
 And heal. And contemplate. And plan. And sip
 On soothing milkshakes. Play with kids--but just
 The quiet games. And watch TV. And think.
 
    --by Bonnie Myers Colton


Nature Break !

NNYCAM
Our webcam is located in Lewis County N.Y., 6 miles north of Boonville and 4 miles south of Turin N.Y.  Overlooking the Adirondack Mountains on some days and aimed at
 Tug Hill on other days. This is a great place to check the weather before you travel in the winter. Please bookmark this page and come back soon.

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 "Walking a Roundabout Path"
by Bonnie M. Colton
A collection of some of the columns and poetry she wrote from 1991 to 2003, is now available. If you live near her, see the author in person. She has a supply of books on hand. Or call toll free 877-BUY BOOK to order direct from the publisher (a discount is given on five or more copies). Or order online at:

http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/description.asp?ISBN=0-7414-2332-4
 The book lists at $13.95, plus sales tax if you buy from the author or at local book signings.
 Orders from the publisher have a shipping and handling charge added.

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( Disclaimer: Please keep in mind, whatever I write is one man's opinion. But last I checked, freedom of speech was still legal in America. Any links leaving my sites, are the opinions of others. We are not responsible for what other people write about or think. )

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Revised: 01/09/12.