Llewellyn Berry
Jack Hawes, Tobacco Farmer
Posted on February 10, 2011by Llewellyn Berry
Jack Hawes
Virginia Tobacco Farmer
King and Queen County
Newtown, Va.
1978
I seek the simplicity of life
Of folded hands,
Crossed legs
A bottle of beer;
The quiet memories of the past…
Send me your well wishes:
The rain to freshen the air,
A prayer for the sun to shine
And a smile from the widow-lady
As she walks to the mail box
When I met Jack Hawes, I asked if I could photograph him. He said if I got him a six pack. I did and I took lots of photographs. After I made this print of him, I gave him a print. He took a hammer and nailed it to the side of his porch. He would point it out to visitors when they stopped by. I felt honored.
In this photograph I like Jack’s grizzled beard; I like his rumpled hat and shirt and most of all I like the glint in his eye.
The verse I wrote was prompted by a picture I took of him with his legs crossed as he relaxed on his porch. The picture is one of many I made of him.
Jack Hawes
Virginia Tobacco Farmer
King and Queen County
Newtown, Virginia
1978