I found the old copper pot in the woods at the first Bedlam Farm, it was in 2004. I know nothing about it, really, I took it to a metal worker to scrape the dirt and mud off it, and I was astonished to see what it really looked like. I have used it all these years to store keys and other things I don’t want to lose.

In the way of material things, I forgot about the pot, I don’t think I have even looked at it in years, the morning sun caught it sitting on the shelf today. It has been right in front of me every day for more than a decade. I felt abashed to be so cavalier about such a beautiful thing, it is quite old and quite special to me.

It is probably the oldest thing in my old farmhouse.

I remember the sense of discovery finding this pot buried in the dirt, exposed after a heavy rain,  near the ruins of a long-abandoned farmhouse in the woods, a spot inhabited by a ghost I once saw walking on the path with my dog Rose. Her hackles went up, and Rose, a strong and fearless dog, whined and refused to go one step down the path.

We both were staring at a tall man in a slouch hat and cloak, I could see the red barn right through him, and then he walked towards me and vanished, but Rose would never again walk on that part of the path. And I don’t believe in ghosts.

I suspect the copper pot might have belonged to his family, I heard from an old storyteller that the people int the farm died of fever while their father and husband was fighting in the French-Indian wars. The old woman told me the ghost would leave if I told him he could, and so I left a note for him in the foundations of the farmhouse, and I never saw him again.

I never heard much more about it, never thought that much about it. But it was nice to re-connect with the copper pot, and with that time, a magical time for me of discovery and connection. It is still a magical time for me, and seeing the pot was a sweet meeting of memory and hope. And ghosts. I hope he is free, if he exists. Maria asks me how I can doubt his existence, since I saw him and so did my dog. I can only say it is my nature.