SUNDOWN

Sometimes we'd walk to the edge of town,
Just to watch the sun go down.
Dogs would come and growl at the
Windows. Victor shot a deer down
By the old house. There is always deer there.

Suffer,
The land is all gone
Now. Water is leaking from the
Car. And the mornings sometimes like sweetgrass
And burned wood. Once, I shook a tree and some
Water fell on my hair. It stayed there
Awhile, then dripped on my face and down my neck.
I shivered and thought of ice-cream. I said it.
Ice-cream, I said.

At night at the window all streaked and gray and
The sill all covered with dust, the Flyer, an
Electric blue snake would scream, rattle the pane
And I'd print my name in the dust.