This Poem was Submitted By: G. Donald Cribbs On Date: 2004-06-11 08:35:39 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Hacking Chestnuts

“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’”  —Matthew 27:54 In England, boys gather horse chestnuts for hacking rather than snapping perfectly good pencils over knuckles. Some soak them in vinegar like Roman soldiers mocking Jesus, others hold theirs back a year, tucked in sock drawers. Shedding prickly green cases, I search for the one top-branch chestnut, and stab its meaty flesh with a skewer to thread it through with heavy string for hacking.  The boys meet at the shallow of the woods to smoke and have a go at conkers. The losers shatter to bits on the ground, winners tucked into pockets for future champions.  Days before I bloodied a boy’s nose for my mother’s honor.  What games we play for sport and some for proof that manhood is not far from us, like the centurion ashamed he was just an ordinary man.

Copyright © June 2004 G. Donald Cribbs

Additional Notes:
I lived in England for two years during elementary school. I was in fourth and fifth grade. This activity called, "conkers" or "hacking chestnuts" is very much like the game in America called, "pencils" where you try to snap a pencil with another pencil to see whose is "stronger." I guess the test of manhood is one we cannot escape throughout the ages of this world. Enjoy!


This Poem was Critiqued By: Rachel F. Spinoza On Date: 2004-07-07 18:57:09
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.92308
What an amazing lesson in a lot of ways - including how to write a magnificent poem In England, boys gather horse chestnuts for hacking rather than snapping perfectly good pencils over knuckles. and rightly so! Some soak them in vinegar like Roman soldiers mocking Jesus, how is that? That is - what does the soaking in vinegar have to do with activity mocking Jesus? The illusion is not know to me.] others hold theirs back a year, tucked in sock drawers. good a place as any for horse chesnuts I guess. I wonder how many of them get washed with the socks like my son's little red fire engine that broke my washing machine ages ago. Shedding prickly green cases, I search for the one top-branch chestnut, and stab its meaty flesh with a skewer to thread it through with heavy string for hacking. The boys meet at the shallow of the woods to smoke and have a go at conkers. Beautifully described and quite a ritual - this hacking! I think I will "have a go at conkers" [I just needed to say that] The losers shatter to bits on the ground, [the chestnusts- not the kids - right?]winners tucked into pockets for future champions. Days before I [had] bloodied a boy’s nose for my mother’s honor. What games we play for sport and some for proof that manhood is not far from us, Some sort of proof for some sort of manhood I guess. Ah men. like the centurion ashamed he was just an ordinary man. Wonderful ending! Brilliant! He was a "centurion" and didn't know it! Didn't know that everyone is extraordinary? That we are all centurions unawares? Love it


This Poem was Critiqued By: Wayne R. Leach On Date: 2004-07-03 17:58:11
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.41860
Nice story, Don. Enjoyable read. I never played either game, only life - and that not to prove anything, or for sport. This piece has a nice cadence that makes it even more enjoyable. Thanks for sharing. Grade is not a concern for me, so just accept my compliments for a piece well done. Peace. wrl
This Poem was Critiqued By: Karen Ann Jacobs On Date: 2004-06-17 21:55:11
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
I feel I am defective, because I didn't understand this poem at all. Maybe I don't get it, because I am a girl and I played "Pencils" in school, too. Something that might help a silly girl to understand a boy's viewpoint is if you used "The Loser's shattered" instead of "The Losers shatter". Then we would see that you were talking about your nuts. I really liked the flow of the first paragraph. I could envision your world as a boy by just the few words you used. I hope this helps, Kay
This Poem was Critiqued By: Edwin John Krizek On Date: 2004-06-17 13:29:09
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.00000
Dear G., Interesting poem. Reads a little like a narrative poem. You create a picture of the boys and who they are by focusing on the hacking. The images are vivid and I can see the boys "playing" the game. It is interesting too what we do to prove our manhood and you've shown some of that here. The poem makes me reflect on my own cases of "hacking". You might try expanding this to a more narrative poem if you feel ambitious. Ed Krizek
This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2004-06-12 16:28:17
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.50000
Hi Donald, I love this story of boy-hood games and must confess I have never heard of chestnut hacking or 'pencils.' This is a delightful story and the fact that it is true gives it even more allure. I raised two boys and I know you speak the truth when you refer to the test of manhood. Our boys were taught never to start a fight but to never run from one either. You prefaced this piece with a verse from the bible and then ended it with reference to the 'centurion' very well done. I know I am not alone when I say I am glad you chose TPL to display your talent! Another great submission from your talanted pen. Pease...Marilyn
This Poem was Critiqued By: Gerard A Geiger On Date: 2004-06-11 21:41:38
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.16667
Dear G. Donald; you portray Hacking Chestnuts as a coming of age game among adolescent English Boys in this poem. It is interesting in that the boys are intimately familiar with the consistency and texture of their natural surroundings. Typically something the poorer boys would know more about I'd wager. Young men...everywhere are driven to these games... It is delightful to read your experience in this work. Fighting for your Mother's honor... another Quest for a junior knight in training.. Thanks for sharing, Gerard
This Poem was Critiqued By: Elaine Marie Phalen On Date: 2004-06-11 09:42:03
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Hi Don, This is such a vivid depiction of that single scene and the implied allegory is equally fine. I don't even think you need the introductory passage from Matthew, because your opening quatrain and your last line [especially] both allude to its circumstances; in fact, the closing, for me at least, would have more impact without the quotation. The gathering of chestnuts, the dicing for a robe ... proof that one has bested his fellows for a dubious "honor" ... initiate youth into manhood across two millennia. But the sudden realization of such "future champions", that they are no closer to godliness for having drawn blood, is so pivotal to their self-awareness. Even the centurion became changed forever. His brief victory is small; his spiritual awakening may well sustain him through many dark hours and turn an "ordinary man" into a wariior for God. You write with such eloquence, yet the diction is accessible to almost any reader. Use of words that imply violence, such as stab, skewer, hacking, shatter, allows us to transfer them to the "other story" in all its horror. Even the colloquial terms can be more or less figured-out, or accepted without query. You also have an extraordinary feel for the perfect line break, the exact spot where enjambment would work best. Wonderful poem! Brenda
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