The Friday Poem

A poem every Friday

The Friday Poem on 07/10/22

We chose ‘Forester’ by Vera Lynch to be our Friday Poem this week because it made us laugh out loud, and because, as well as the dark humour, we love the precision and clarity of the language. Lynch knows what to include, and exactly where to stop. There’s nothing unnecessary here — each word earns its place and does its job, and the poem is neat and satisfying. Part wry threat, part plea for sisterhood, this is a poem we relish.

Forester

The local news adored it
A female forester! 
Our very own lumberJill!
I smiled patiently 

Laughed along
Answered their questions
I’ve always loved being outdoors    (true)
I’ve always enjoyed working with men     (false)

When the fuss died down          cameras gone
    the forest hushed
I began.

In time the men of the town accepted me,
kept a space for me at the bar,
laughed when I swore as rough as them
then barely noticed. I listened.

In the forest after dark
I meet the women 
Tell them what I hear among their men
— who is dangerous, who is lying, who will leave

I give no advice. Trust them
to make wise choices. Help them
if the digging is hard. Help them
if the dragging is heavy.

Vera Lynch’s first memory is of throwing a rock at her mother, so she grew up to be a psychotherapist. She was born in Cambridge but moved the family back North when she was six months old and has lived and worked in Yorkshire ever since. She writes lists, letters, poetry and memoir.

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