Ode to the Truckling

I’ve mentioned elsewhere that my family acquired a John Deere AMT 626 in about 1990. And we’ve been fortunate to own (and depend upon) several John Deere UTVs since those early 5-wheeled days. Although the endurance, performance, and even the number of wheels has increased over the decades, our nickname for these green machines has not. It was my mother who first began referring to the knobby, balloon-tired workhorse as the “truckling”. And the name stuck.

[Our] John Deere Gator is an omnipresent and much depended upon utility vehicle for us. Whether hauling compost or pulling the wood splitter or chipper; moving fire pits or transporting waterskis, windsurfers, paddle boards, wetsuits and life jackets back-and-forth, to-and-from the boathouse; assisting with peach, apple, and pear harvest or just a quick inspection of the wildlife habitat along Library Brook; our Gators are indispensable. (Source: John Deere Gator: Three Generations)

When Tony sent me a photograph this afternoon to show me that he had cleaned both Gators, removing 3-4 weeks worth of mud, resulting in shiny, good-as-new Gators once again, I realized that I’m long overdue for an ode to the truckling. Not just the John Deere Gator that Tony cleaned today. Not just the one that he cleaned yesterday. But all of them. today I rectify this oversight once and for all!

Ode to the Truckling

Oh, green machine –
working and waiting,
waiting and working –
always solid and steady
but rarely if ever
acknowledged,
congratulated,
or celebrated.
Know that this oversight,
this act of omission,
is no act of commission,
that today and every day
we’re singularly grateful
for our reliable workhorse
the color of spring,
with six yellow wheels
and knobby balloon tires,
flatbed dented and scarred
from hauling logs and rocks,
compost, mulch, and tools.
Season after season
you navigate fields and forest,
gather orchard harvests, maintain bridges and trails,
engine humming contentment,
patient, always ready to work.

To say this is a preliminary and self-conscious draft is an understatement. But it’s Friday. I’m whipped. And so I’m going to share with you what I probably should keep to myself. But I will do so with an invitation to collaborate and create a better version, better suited to the dignity of these long serving vehicles.

Have a great weekend!