Kindling

Chopping kindling is strangely musical- the split of the initial log into little pieces, then the subsequent tap-tap-tap-twang as the smaller pieces are separated, finally losing their fibrous grips on unity just before the blade of the axe. Then the clatter-fall from block to ground. I'd forgotten how much I missed this simple work- and a blister and two slivers in the cold-ache of gripping the axe handle were a decent trade-off for twelve dollars and an afternoon outside.