DORIS BIRCHAM
Saskatchewan
About Doris Bircham
When Jake Got Sick
Way back in deep snow when ‘twas thirty below,
Jake got feelin' right down and out.
He had some kind of flu and one thing I knew
beyond any reasonable doubt,
chores had to get done and it wouldn't be fun
with corrals full of feeders on feed,
so I felt destined to face into the wind,
give my all in this time of great need.
I worked with our son and was kept on the run,
with him there's no standing around.
I filled pellet pails, helped haul out bales
and spread straw on the calves' bedding ground.
And in spite of the cold, chores were well controlled
when I walked in the house at noon
to find Jake feelin' rough. He said, "I know it's tough
but I hope to be back at chores soon."
Doc told Jake to rest. Jake was doin’ his best,
just walked from the couch to the table.
With his concentration on health's restoration,
peel potatoes? No, he wasn't able.
'Fore he went to see Doc, he ran, didn’t walk;
worked himself 'til he's all hide and bone,
but when Doc said, "Stay in!" he turned weaker'n sin;
'twas an effort to pick up the phone.
I said, "Jake I'm no fool and I'm losin' my cool,
though your sickness does cause me sorrow.
But one thing I ask, is do some light tasks,
like get dinner ready tomorrow."
Well, Jake fried up some steak, put spuds on to bake
and generally cooked up a feast,
but our old feed truck died and when I got inside
it was quarter past one at least.
And for sure you can bet Jake was some upset,
said my dawdlin' had messed up his life.
"Oh, please Lord," I prayed, "make him well, I’m afraid
he's startin' to sound like a wife."
© 2009, Doris Bircham
This poems may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.
About Doris Bircham:
From Doris Bircham, 2009:
When Doris and her husband, Ralph (Jake in her poems), purchased their ranch on Bear Creek in the Cypress Hills area of Southwestern Saskatchewan, all of their possessions with the exception of fifteen Hereford cows and a second hand piano, fit into the back of a half ton. They raised a son and daughter (both ranching in the area) and Doris says she has been partnered with the same man, same ranch and same prairie wind forever.
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