| walking down dirt road bordered by cattails rattling in wind gravel poking bottom of flip flops chew fingernails on stubby fingers ignore parents bribe of $1.00 for each nail that grows rusted red pick-up drives erratically dirt, dust, and gravel spit from beneath tread-worn tires shotgun on back window straw hat angled on driver's head he looks in side mirror slows, stops truck flicks half smoked cigarette out window into moist swamp hide amongst crackling cattails black muck and lime green algae squeeze between toes hungry gnats buzz head driver turns his head of shaggy blond hair checks dust covered rear view mirror truck starts rusted red truck spins wheels spats gravel cigarette smoke billows out window back on dirt road mud covered feet speckled with green neck full of gnat bites no fingernails to chew mom and dad will understand ~first appeared in Juice 2006 |
