Bad Day at the Wapentake
The word is Scandinavian and
refers
to the brandishing of weapons
to signify assent in a popular
assembly.
Cloud is
heavy on the hills,
a late
snake moves slow
through
long grass.
Whey is
being stirred thick
in an
outhouse
and sullen
children in the yard
are not
inclined to misbehave
as their
grisly father pours
a dark
measure of ale
and
loosens his belt.
Local
men gather to oppose
a
motion. Pikes glint
in the
Autumn light,
dumb
cudgels are not counted
and then
they don’t vote no.