Slade was pulling minnows out of the dry river the day we met. Puddles, more or less, was all that was left. But what could live wanted to and tried, treading narrow circles, a glide of brittle fins. He wore those rubber boots, though the sun was an anvil, and very little wet; he smiled, […]
All we grow here is cotton stalks. Thirsty weed that sells. When summer leaves, look out: the high ground will be fogged by bolls the size of testicles, every inch; a reap of what we have for what we want; of what we want. Thirsty, but it sells. The enginepickers would lift three, four rows, […]
We treat them like it’s catching, like those people chose a joke birthright. Some have no eyes, the sockets patched with paper flesh; others, gifted— three arms, four, an ear. The Kid is one. His just-born heart thrummed outside his body, no breastbone, his mouth red-wide for the surging scream, but silence is what was […]
I get sick when I see one of their stubarms waving. I don’t want to touch them, and anyway Slade hurries us when we’re told to go log stock—who could report what those people need. The planes sprayed for weevils, that’s what was said, then fire ants, that’s what was said, but it was a […]
Because he’s spurred you grab him by his neck and his legs Hold him in both your hands Look him in the eye Let him ask if you are to kill him today then tell him yes say yes with your own eye just before you take him to the clothes […]
Enter the night coop whistling Through your teeth sing In this awful world of sorrow sing In this wicked path of sin Tuck her under your arm and walk away from the laying birds the cuckold-morning rising in their dumb wings Walk away from sleep Make sure […]
When the ground is lit when your back, hands, intent are lit full well full dawn of dark when the tide swells (forget sea) when the tide swells in soil unseen root stem leaf when the moon is in its age plant that which rises above the ground to bloom […]
Do you remember how close you were to her when she was farrowing and she needed you her bawling drawing you out of bed a bad dream how you washed her vulva, soft warm water over your own hands how you scrubbed even your fingernails under your fingernails before […]