In 1975, this barn came down, slowly, it’s insides became empty, and it fell from its top. The land was plowed, and it became a growing plot.
Ten years before, it’s paint was wearing away, the grass around it had grown up, the windows left a little life for it to see, white-wash seemed so far.
Twenty years before that time, it was full, and workable, and the corral fence was up, the leather goods were hung on one wall, the calves, new, and wanting, were fed in here, and hay bales lined the second floor and all the world with it stood firm and pleased. The war was done, the boys came home, those that could, and they brought new life for all.
Thirty years previous, there was a stack of planks, roofing boards, the ground was wrought and smooth. Buckets of paint and long limber brushes were worked, the grass was green, the pens were full, goats and sheep, and chickens, all kept for dinners, milk and eggs, were finally covered without the lean-to, and the farming man leaned on his rake, pulled his hat back, and let the sun of the day coat him with the warmest of feelings.
Ralph Peck
Photo by
Louise Wilson Manwaring
At Grangeville and Fenn, Idaho
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