Jay Parini : Vermont a haven of mountains , red barns , clapboard houses , covered bridges . Comment: Now , Brattleboro deep under water , ruined covered bridges and homes , Parini says . Parini : Vermonters left to clean up in the calm , bright weather Irene left behind .
Jay Parini : Vermont a haven of mountains , red barns , clapboard houses , covered bridges . Bad weather comes in winter , he says , with ice bending trees and snow blocking roads . Now , Brattleboro deep under water , ruined covered bridges and homes , Parini says . Parini : Vermonters left to clean up in the calm , bright weather Irene left behind .