The Face in the Firewood

About twenty years ago, in need of extra cash, I rented my seaside house out for a month to a couple from Atlanta, Georgia. The woman was a sports writer and intended to continue working during their vacation. I had cable TV installed just for their visit so she could watch all the games she needed to. She apparently worked a lot during the time they could have been enjoying our village and the sea, because often and often her husband could be found on the back porch, alone, whittling away at an old log that was the fag end of a load of firewood from the previous year. When they left he presented me with his carving, which he had whitewashed, as a gift. Today there is very little left of what he gave me, as rot has claimed more of the wood every year. This year there is only the face of the man he had carved, and soon that will be gone too. So I am recording that now and presenting it here, because I find it an impressive work of art, one of the saddest faces I have ever seen. I think it was a self portrait.

18 March 2018
Texas Jim
Prospect, Nova Scotia
www.granitecoast.ca