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Mr. Orrie’s Clamming License
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Julie Buffaloe-Yoder
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A man with a badge
pulls up in a boat
next to Mr. Orrie’s
bent back shack:
.
Have you got
a license
to clam here?
.
Mr. Orrie’s got
a Cherokee mama
and a great grandpa
buried three knots
beyond the beacon.
.
He’s got a brogue
thick as marsh mud
.
curly white eyebrows
and a blue birthmark
shaped like a crab claw
on his brown-red jaw.
.
He’s got his daddy’s rake,
boots, nets, hip waders
and a criss-cross of scars
on his long, thick arms.
.
Mr. Orrie’s got a sweet
round woman with a gun
and a kettle of home brew
on his saggy back porch.
.
He’s got salt in his marrow
and a leg that still aches
ever since that time in ’58
when a stingray got him.
.
He’s got a faded gray
pickup truck that runs
and a yellow lab dog
with an ear chewed off
by a fat black bear.
.
He’s got a rope
for every squall.
A hurricane lantern
that’s seen them all.
.
He’s got a hand carved boat
that’s fifty years older
than the man with the badge.
.
He does not have
a politician’s piece
of pretty legalese.
.
But son, you’d bloody well
better hurry up and believe
.
Mr. Orrie’s got a license
to clam anywhere
he damn well pleases.
.
.
fine again, julie.
thanks for the ride deep outback.
Hi, Jack. Thanks so much:) I hope you’re having a good day.
You nailed the issue again, Miss Julie. And oh my, the imagery. That was fabulous.
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Hi, Kimberli! Thanks so much:) -Julie
this is like a steinbeck novel boiled down into a poem. the irony is that the detail that brings mr. orrie (and so many others) to life is so complete that the poem seems like just the beginning of his story. you are impossibly good at that.
the pieces of his life are brilliant. all of them. i can smell the salt in his marrow and see the smile on the woman. and i love that mr. orrie makes no response – like he’s sizing up the questioner, looking three knots out, while the narrator is filling me in – by the end, i almost feel sorry for the man with the badge.
amazing, signature ju-bu-yo.
Hi, Joaquin. Thanks for pointing out the narrator. I debated whose “eyes” should tell the story, so I’m glad you like that. The man who inspired Mr. Orrie wasn’t much for talking, though, especially to men with badges. Ha!
Thanks so much, Joaquin. I really appreciate your support.
That’s great. Not the ending I was expecting–very strong and positive in the face of the inevitability of changing times–but I loved it.
Hi, Brigindo. That’s a good observation. In reality, Mr. Orrie would not win. This one’s for my friends back home who would stand up and cheer the victory (even though we know the man with the badge usually wins). And, of course, the narrator is a bit angry.
Thanks so much for your good words.
Damn straight skippy and a right to have an open boil fire for a clam bake.
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Hello, WM. I love that comment!! Right on. I reckon the next thing they’ll take away is our bonfires. Thanks so much. -J
How I love the characters you bring to life for us! Mr. Orrie – so real I can smell the salt marsh around him – holds his claim in this one. You are, as joaquin said, so very good at what you do, Julie. The details you choose to include bring us right into the scene and help us know, in so few lines, the story within the story.
This poem solidifies my thinking about visualizing poetry. No pictures needed – you have created them exquisitely.
Hey, Karen! Thanks so much. You sure know how to make my day. Your support is always appreciated
As an aside: I thought of a name for your first published collection… inspired by joaquin’s comment…
“Pieces of Life”
I tell ya, though:
“But son, you’d bloody well
better hurry up and believe
Mr. Orrie’s got a license
to clam anywhere
he damn well pleases.”
takes me right back to my favorite line:
“Mr. Orrie’s got a sweet
round woman with a gun”
heehee!!!
as always, your character comes to life.
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I love the title, Nan! That is a great idea. And thank you!! I really appreciate that. I should write a poem about the sweet round woman with a gun…ha! ha! You make my day:) -J
I would sure like to think he has earned the right to clam where he pleases. I agree with Karen about visualizing. It is important to me to see through my own thoughts to my eyes inside, and your writing lights the way so I can see things my way and use my imagination. That is my favorite part of reading.
Hi, Technobabe. I do love the comments about visualizing. I’ve been thinking a lot about that this week as I read other peoples’ poems. They are showing me their worlds, and I love that. Thank you very much!
You are my favorite poet for stories like this. You put whole cultures in your characters. Just amazing.
The Healing
When I was so sick
you fed me your fish stock soup
made the old time way
and you hummed a song
that felt stronger than the oak,
the tree in your yard
where the squirrels live
and the wise black crows light.
Fed, I dreamed I flew.
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Oh, how beautiful! I love the poem:) Believe it or not, you have just written the way I want to die. I know it sounds weird for me to say that, but I would love to go peacefully under a live oak tree. Thank you! -Julie
Hi Julie,
Before I read everyone’s comments, this was the opening comment I’d written in my mind: Through specific detail you create real people- I have a lot to learn from your work. I also was drawn to the image of the sweet round woman with a gun backing him up. That “telling” detail is a story in and of itself, and helps solidify Mr. Orrie as real.
I just read an essay last night about place in fiction being history, and everything about this poem creates a place as well as a person. I love the ending, and this is what my mind imagines: Mr. Orrie’s not caught up in proving himself. He’ll tell the officer, sure, I’ll move on, and then he’ll do what he’s always done, and who knows, maybe the officer, having done his job, will let him. (Or maybe he’ll help Mr. Orrie get his clamming license, so there will be enough clams for future harvests.)
Hi, Annie! Thank you for your thoughtful comments. The essay you read sounds very interesting. I agree. Place is so important in fiction or poetry. Even when we’re not necessarily writing about a place in particular, our life history or experience has been shaped by where we have lived.
Here’s one thing I have noticed as I travel from state to state. In general, people in different regions have different gestures. That is so interesting to me! The way we tilt our heads or move our hands, the way we move, our body language, etc. is different depending on our region. I’m sure genetics influences it, too. And now with many people moving from place to place, it may be changing. But I’ve noticed physical similarities depending on place.
When I lived in Ohio, I saw a couple walking through town one day. I knew…I mean I just KNEW…they were from North Carolina by the way they moved. When they started to speak, I knew what part of the state they were from. I finally asked them, and sure enough, I was right. Now I can do the same thing when I see a person from the Midwest. I’m not exactly right every time, but I can usually guess the general region.
Thank you so much, Annie. I appreciate your support and kind words:)
I love the rythm set up by the narrator’s response to ‘have you got.’ All those He’s gots are great, and the shift in the last verse to ‘Mr Orrie’s got’ moves the entire exchange so effectively back to Mr Orrie and the dignity of Mr Orrie. But it made me laugh out loud.
Hi, Sheila. I’m glad it made you laugh. There’s a bit of anger or sarcasm in there, but it’s also intended to end on a light note. Thanks for pointing out the shift, and I appreciate all of your good words. And thanks for your visit. I’ll hop over and see what you have going on, too. Have a great weekend!
When you’re a local there’s no need for regulation, especially from a no-good do-gooder. Got teach them outsiders how things are done around here.
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Hey, JR! Sorry it took me so long to get you up here. I was out fishing and didn’t catch jack squat. But it was an awesome day. I hope yours was, too. Thanks much. -J
Another wonderful, wonderful character! Yes, wherever he damn well pleases…
Thank you, Rachel! You always know how to make me smile. I appreciate it so much:) Have a beautiful weekend.
“three knots/ beyond the beacon”, “a brogue/ thick as marsh mud”, “a blue birthmark/ shaped like a crab claw”, “a sweet/ round woman with a gun/ and a kettle of home brew”, “salt in his marrow”, “a rope/ for every squall” – I wish I’d written them all! Wonderful work, Jules
Hi, Michelle! It’s always great to see you. Thank you very much:)
Fantastic. Each detail adds to the soup that is Mr. Orrie. I savor each one. I love “son….,” a perfect southern touch to his mud marsh brogue.
Thanks, Christine! I’m glad you pointed out “son.” I get a kick out of that. I hope you’re doing well and having a great semester. I really appreciate your support:)
love it, love it, love it. Your poetry is such a delight.
Thank you, Ruth! That really makes me smile. I hope your week is off to a great start:)
the tolls, scars and victories of age should entitle us to something. why not clams?
Hi, Kim! I like the way you put that. I’ll add “especially since it’s his livelihood.” Thanks so much. It’s great to see you.
I know you don’t need me to say it, because so many others have said it. But I love this poem. I can’t remember the last time I read a poem with so much story in it (or character)
Hi, Keith! I never get tired of hearing it:) Thank you very much. I hope your week’s going well.
that makes a great statement about whose land it is and who really should have the rights….
Hello, Juliet! It’s always so good to see you. Thank you!
Not too many people can paint a picture like you do, Julie. Putting us all in the frame along with your folk.
I’m back from a sabbatical and look forward to stepping in to your world every so often again.
Hi, Kat. Welcome back! It’s great to see you. Thanks so much.
You do paint a picture for sure, and make me smile while reading.
Thank you, girlswithoutshoes! I still can’t get over how cool your name is. I love that. I’m glad it made you smile. Have a good one!