"In October he backed his ox into his cart
and he and his family filled it up
with everything they made or grew all year long
that was left over.

He packed candles the family made.
He packed linen made from the flax they grew.
He packed shingles he split himself.
He packed birch brooms that his son carved
with a borrowed kitchen knife.

And he walked at his ox's head ten days
until he came to Portsmouth
and Portsmouth Market.

He sold birch brooms.
He sold candles and shingles.

He sold his ox cart.

Then he sold his ox, and kissed him goodbye on his nose."



Ox-Cart Man, Donald Hall