NPM23_Postcard_CROSSMAN

Your Trowel Rae Crossman I’m using your brick trowel today to prepare the soil for planting begonias along the base of your headstone my hand on the handle you held the steel blade cutting through the earth you lie under just as you cut slices of mortar from the mound on the board then spread the mud with a flourish along the top course of bricks ran a light furrow along the centre laid your philosophy down the row walls always plumb stories always on the level corners as square as your pride I’m using your brick trowel today I don’t have your wrist action or your arm’s rhythmic swing but I have your eye for straight spacing the begonias evenly tapping them down with the handle’s hard end firmly into the ready bed of loam