the woman with blue gloves

in her bee
bonnet
and father's
large
pants held
up by twine, goggles
wrapped around
her eyes,
and boots
up to her
knees she comes
out
of her dark
locked house
and says hello.
she's wearing
blue rubber gloves
that come
up to her
elbows. you try
hard not to stare.
turning your attention
to the work
at hand.
how's it going,
she says.
are you getting
the job done.
yes you say.
I'm fine.
great she says
then grabs
and axe with which
to chop a tree
down beside
the house.