How cumbersome the camera was,
the tripod too and box of plates.
The fuss to get the light just so,
to make the whole thing straight and true
was almost more than they could stand.

Important too that everyone
be still, not thrash or mill about.
Regardless, trees moved in the wind
and water flowed and smoke
wafted where it would.

But it was worth the fuss because
it froze the women – dark dresses,
with their shoe tips peeking out and
mustached men in unpressed suits,
with vested bellies fobbed and chained.

All so unhurried, simple and
everybody seemed to know that
you and I would study them and
so they wore their Sunday faces.
Strong and plain – sure and beautiful.

Joel Fallon was Benicia’s first poet laureate, a position he held from 2006 to 2008. The above poem was written on Feb. 23, 2007

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