Sheron Roberts on mon 4 sep 00
Carrie,
I use a small wood stove to=20
heat my studio. The flue goes
up and out through the roof.
The stovepipe, as well as the
stove itself, radiates heat.
We purchased a cord of wood
last winter for 40.00 dollars
and used it in the house in the
fire place as well as the studio
and still have wood left over.
Understand that wood is not
our primary heat source for the
house. But it was for the studio
and I work in the studio mostly
in the evenings and at night
when it is the coldest. Once the
fire is started and the door closed
and the dampers adjusted I=20
seldom had to bother with it.
I like the nostalgia of using the
stove, reminds me of my grandparents
home, which was heated by fireplaces
and a pot belly stove.
The following is an excerpt from a poem
I wrote about the house my granddad
built himself. I wish the tools he used
were still around.
The Wash Room
The rooster crows its scorn
to the chill gray=20
of first light
the crack of dawn
that heralds the morn
side meat sizzling in a black skillet
sends its siren smell
to lure us from the cocoon warmth
of feather beds
scuttling 'cross cold wooden floors
trailing quilts like little Indians
with a need to get somewhere
we huddle in the washroom
just off the kitchen
Shivering our gratitude
to the potbelly stove
with a crack in its side
that glowed bright orange red
as we dressed
to keep from freezing
in the house with no insulation.
An arthritic hand pump=20
stood in the corner
guarding an enamel sink
creaking in protest
as we pumped it up and down
sending sweet well water
gushing from its mouth.
Cold and clean
to be heated on the stove=20
for washing.
I can still smell that water,
nothing like it anymore.
Once dressed and properly shod
we filled our bellies
with the glue of grits
and hot biscuits
waiting on the oil clothe table
and planned our day=20
around the zillion games to be played
in the house granddaddy built.
Sheron Roberts
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