Mercedes de Acosta: Lumbermen

“I WATCH the lumbermen
Winding up the mountain
Between the autumn branches.
I see
Leaves gold, red, flame and green,
With flashes of faded blue between
Of their overalls.
Straining and pulling,
Horses brown and soiled white
Stagger up the mountain-side
Before them,
Dragging huge and heavy timber.
Down in the valley
I can hear the echo
Of the men’s muffled curses,
And the quick snap
Of long thin whips.”