iew j. s. belote, k. r. barger, randolph bridgeman
TRANSCRIPT
2Riv
erw
ww
.2Ri
ver.o
rg74
74 D
rexe
l DR
• U
nive
rsity
City
• M
O •
631
30 •
USA
2RV
17.3
(Spr
ing
2013
)
J. S.
Bel
ote,
K. R
. Bar
ger,
Rand
olph
Brid
gem
an, C
harle
s Ces
sna
Kath
y Da
vis,
Jean
nine
Hal
l Gai
ley,
Chr
is e
n G
holso
nKa
ther
ine
Mitc
hell,
Jam
es B
. Nic
ola,
Dia
na R
eave
sPh
ilipp
e Sh
ils, B
arba
ra W
uest
The
2Riv
er V
iew
17.3
(Spr
ing
2013
)
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 17.
3 (S
prin
g 20
13)
Abou
t 2Ri
ver
Sinc
e 19
96, 2
Rive
r has
bee
n a
site
of p
oetr
y an
d ar
t, qu
arte
rly
publ
ishin
g Th
e 2R
iver
Vie
w a
nd o
ccas
iona
lly p
ublis
hing
in
divi
dual
aut
hors
in th
e 2R
iver
Cha
pboo
k Se
ries.
2Ri
ver i
s also
th
e ho
me
of M
uddy
Ban
k, th
e 2R
iver
blo
g.
Rich
ard
Long
2Riv
erIS
SN 1
536-
2086
ww
w.2
Rive
r.org
ww
w.m
uddy
bank
.org
The
2Riv
er V
iew
17.3
(Spr
ing
2013
)
Cove
r: C
ount
ry R
oad
© 2
013
by C
orie
Neu
may
er
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 17.
3 (S
umm
er 2
013)
Cont
ents
Char
les C
essn
aHa
ngin
g
K. R
. Bar
ger
Scar
ecro
w
J. S.
Bel
ote
Whi
te R
oom
Rand
olph
Brid
gem
anrv
guy
why
he
don’
t fl ip
peo
ple
off a
nym
ore
Foot
path
© 2
013
by C
orie
Neu
may
er
Jean
nine
Hal
l Gai
ley,
a S
ea le
201
3 Ja
ck S
traw
Writ
er, i
s the
Po
et L
aure
ate
of R
edm
ond,
Was
hing
ton.
She
is th
e au
thor
of
thre
e bo
oks o
f poe
try:
Bec
omin
g th
e Vi
llain
ess,
She
Ret
urns
to
the
Floa
ng
Wor
ld, a
nd U
nexp
lain
ed F
ever
s (fo
rthc
omin
g).
Chris
en
Gho
lson
is th
e au
thor
of t
he n
ovel
, A F
ish T
rapp
ed
Insid
e th
e W
ind
(Par
thia
n 20
11),
and
On
the
Side
of t
he C
row
(H
angi
ng L
oose
Pre
ss 2
006;
Par
thia
n 20
11).
He c
an b
e fo
und
(infr
eque
ntly
) at h
is bl
og: n
oise
& si
lenc
e.
Kath
erin
e M
itche
ll ho
lds a
n M
FA in
Cre
a v
e W
ri n
g fr
om th
e U
nive
rsity
of M
issou
ri—Sa
int L
ouis.
She
wor
ks p
rofe
ssio
nally
as
an
Alex
ande
r Tec
hniq
ue te
ache
r. Sh
e al
so te
ache
s Arg
en n
e Ta
ngo
at W
ashi
ngto
n U
nive
rsity
in S
t. Lo
uis w
ith h
er h
usba
nd.
Jam
es B
. Nic
ola
has p
revi
ously
pub
lishe
d in
2Ri
ver,
Atla
nta
Revi
ew, T
ar R
iver
, Tex
as R
evie
w, a
nd e
lsew
here
. His
book
Pla
ying
th
e Au
dien
ce w
on a
Cho
ice
Awar
d, a
nd h
e ha
s also
won
the
Dana
Lite
rary
and
Sto
ryte
ller P
eopl
e’s C
hoic
e aw
ards
for p
oetr
y.
Dian
a Re
aves
gre
w u
p in
Ala
bam
a al
ong
the
bank
s of t
he
Cha
aho
oche
e Ri
ver.
She
a e
nds t
he U
nive
rsity
of A
rkan
sas a
s an
MFA
can
dida
te in
poe
try
wri
ng.
Her
poe
ms h
ave
appe
ared
in
Box
car P
oetr
y Re
view
and
Tar R
iver
Poe
try.
Phili
ppe
Shils
is a
phy
sicia
n as
sista
nt in
Dec
atur
, Illi
nois.
His
poet
ry h
as a
ppea
red
or is
fort
hcom
ing
in A
lba,
BO
DY, E
limae
, Hy
perle
xia
Jour
nal,
Ra le
, Six
th F
inch
, and
else
whe
re.
Barb
ara
Wue
st h
olds
an
MFA
from
Uni
vers
ity o
f Cal
iforn
ia,
Irvin
e. H
er p
oem
s are
pub
lishe
d in
Bel
oit P
oetr
y Jo
urna
l, Ci
ncin
na P
oetr
y Re
view
, Cro
ssCu
rren
ts, L
aure
l Rev
iew
, The
Par
is Re
view
, Win
d, W
iscon
sin A
cade
my
Revi
ew, a
nd e
lsew
here
.
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 17.
3 (S
prin
g 20
13)
Cont
ribut
ors
K.R.
Bar
ger w
as b
orn
and
raise
d in
rura
l Virg
inia
. She
cur
rent
ly
resid
es in
Bos
ton.
J. S.
Bel
ote
is an
MFA
can
dida
te a
t Virg
inia
Com
mon
wea
lth
Uni
vers
ity. H
is po
ems h
ave
appe
ared
in A
droi
t Jou
rnal
, The
Co
rtla
nd R
evie
w, a
nd M
ead
Mag
azin
e.
Rand
olph
Brid
gem
an g
radu
ated
from
St.
Mar
y’s C
olle
ge o
f M
aryl
and
and
is th
e re
cipi
ent o
f the
Edw
ard
T. L
ewis
Poet
ry
Prize
. He
has t
hree
col
lec
ons
of p
oem
s: S
outh
of E
very
whe
re
(200
5), M
echa
nic
on D
uty
(200
8), a
nd T
he O
dd Te
stam
ent
(fort
hcom
ing)
.
Char
les C
essn
a ha
ils fr
om w
este
rn N
orth
Car
olin
a an
d no
w
resid
es in
the
Pied
mon
t with
his
wife
and
coc
ker s
pani
els.
His
poet
ry m
ost r
ecen
tly a
ppea
red
in th
e N
orth
Am
eric
an R
evie
w
and
is fo
rthc
omin
g in
The
Bro
ken
Plat
e.
Kath
y Da
vis i
s the
aut
hor o
f Hol
ding
for t
he F
arrie
r (Fi
nish
ing
Line
Pre
ss 2
007)
. She
has
bee
n pu
blish
ed in
Bar
row
Str
eet,
Blac
kbird
, Dio
de, T
he H
udso
n Re
view
, The
Mas
sach
use
s
Revi
ew, a
nd T
he S
outh
ern
Revi
ew. S
he li
ves a
nd w
orks
in
Rich
mon
d, V
irgin
ia.
Danc
ing
Tree
s © 2
013
by C
orie
Neu
may
er
Kath
y Da
vis
No
Rain
for a
Spe
llO
pen
Wat
er
Jean
nine
Hal
l Gai
ley
The
End
Thin
gs I
Lear
ned
in W
ai n
g Ro
oms
Chris
en
Gho
lson
Dias
pora
Ever
y Tr
ee Is
So
ly F
allin
g
Kath
erin
e M
itche
llYo
ur H
ouse
Jam
es B
. Nic
ola
You
See
Dian
a Re
aves
A M
othe
r Con
fess
ing
Teet
h an
d Fe
athe
rs
Phili
ppe
Shils
alon
e w
ith m
y da
ught
er in
the
hous
ehe
y he
y pr
e y
bab
y
Barb
ara
Wue
stTh
e Re
al W
orld
The
2Riv
er V
iew
, 17.
3 (S
prin
g 20
13)
your
inbo
x, a
nie
ce w
rites
in c
yber
spac
e in
a p
arro
t’svo
ice,
one
she
mad
e up
and
ass
igne
d a
hum
an n
ame,
Rona
ld, a
nd a
cou
ntry
of b
irth,
the
mod
erat
e U
K, a
las!
We
have
a fo
rmal
exc
hang
e in
whi
ch h
e po
kes f
un a
t
our w
ays o
f sta
ying
in to
uch
(em
ail o
ff end
s his
soul
)an
d w
onde
rs a
bout
a sp
ecie
s tha
t han
gs o
nto
a di
stan
ce
he h
as to
rele
arn,
spre
adin
g hi
s cla
ws o
ver l
e e
red
keys
that
“fl y
” hi
m to
Bra
zil to
set t
he re
cord
stra
ight
.
Barb
ara
Wue
st
The
Real
Wor
ld
Just
whe
n yo
u th
ink
you’
ve b
een
on th
is ea
rth
too
long
som
ethi
ng h
appe
ns to
mak
e it
all b
rand
new
—a
mad
e
thin
g or
per
sons
bor
n, li
ke th
e w
oman
ove
r the
re b
undl
edag
ains
t the
col
d w
alki
ng fr
om th
e sid
e do
or to
war
d th
e
barn
that
just
mig
ht c
olla
pse
if th
e w
ind
pick
s up,
how
she
and
the
land
scap
e re
min
d yo
u of
the
char
acte
r and
se n
g off
ere
d in
that
nov
el y
ou re
ad w
ith it
s aff a
irs,
secr
ets,
susp
icio
us d
eath
s, a
ll se
en th
roug
h th
e ey
es o
f a
boy
who
is n
ow a
gro
wn
man
reca
lling
hav
ing
seen
too
muc
h ba
ck in
thos
e da
ys w
hen
his f
athe
r did
wro
ng w
ith
the
wom
an fr
om th
e fa
rm w
ho fr
ied
the
boy
som
e eg
gs
on th
e ve
ry sa
me
day
and
arriv
ed in
his
drea
ms t
hat n
ight
.
------
----
Ther
e’s t
he b
ook,
ther
e’s t
he li
fe, t
here
’s th
e th
ing
that
save
s, a
n em
ail,
say,
sent
to y
our a
ddre
ss sa
ying
you
r
best
frie
nd fe
ll in
love
with
a m
an w
ho st
udie
s pla
nts
and
she
is no
long
er lo
nely
or s
ad, a
nd ju
st b
elow
, in
Char
les C
essn
a
Han
ging
I a
m le
ha
ngin
g as
the
appl
e ha
ngs
at th
e hi
ghes
t poi
nt o
f the
tree
.So
man
ypr
ied
loos
ebe
com
e m
ash
unde
r the
hoo
ves o
f cow
s.
Whe
n da
ys
grow
col
d,th
e su
nlig
ht la
cks
a ce
rtai
n ha
rdne
ssin
the
early
mor
ning
.G
radu
ally
colo
r cha
nges
from
rudd
y re
dto
dul
l bro
wn
and
gray
.
Look
up,
look
,I a
m tu
rnin
g id
ly in
the
win
d,ev
en a
s the
last
leav
es fa
ll,an
d th
e co
ws l
ope
inse
nsib
ly to
war
ds th
e ha
y.
K. R
. Bar
ger
Scar
ecro
w
A e
r you
die
dI a
lway
s tho
ught
I co
uld
take
the
blac
k an
d w
hite
pa
rty
dres
s han
ging
in th
e cl
oset
ou
t to
the fi e
ldw
hen
I nee
ded
good
thin
gs to
gro
w—
the
good
m
es it
had
seen
wou
ld st
and
ther
e lik
e a
scar
ecro
w w
arni
ng off
the
bird
s brin
ging
the
wor
ms,
the
bad
unse
ling
thou
ghts
to
feed
this
daug
hter
’s so
rrow
.By
the
end
you
wer
e as
bon
yas
the
shou
lder
shap
ed w
ire,
hang
ing
that
favo
rite
dres
s;it
was
shin
y bl
ack
with
whi
te la
ce
edgi
ng a
cros
s you
r cle
avag
eas
you
dan
ced
with
Dad
dy—
Show
ing
off t
he d
ress
.Th
e bo
om
wou
ld sp
in o
ut
like
a tw
irl o
f dar
k un
iver
se,
that
wou
ld e
vent
ually
col
lide
with
all
you
love
d br
eaki
ng
dow
n th
e da
ys, d
inne
rs, d
anci
ngle
avin
g yo
u so
ver
y w
idow
edan
d re
ady
to g
o, th
at th
e ca
ncer
in y
our m
iddl
e be
cam
e a
vort
ex
and
like
a st
ar y
ou, y
our l
ifeth
e liv
es o
f you
r dau
ghte
rs,
your
hou
se a
nd h
ome,
al
l you
had
, die
d ou
t—
Phili
ppe
Shils
hey
hey
pre
y b
aby
woo
dy g
uthr
ie’s
daug
hter
cat
hy d
ied
in a
fi re
a
er h
e w
rote
her
swee
t sim
ple
song
san
d sa
ng th
em w
ith a
pla
in v
e an
d pl
eadi
ng to
ne“w
ho’s
my
pre
y b
aby
(hey
hey
pre
y b
aby)
”
luci
a st
ops a
t the
top
of a
step
or a
cur
ban
d as
she
clut
ches
vag
uely
for s
ome
help
I k
now
that
we
toge
ther
lost
the
man
date
of h
eave
nw
oody
and
luci
a an
d ca
thy
and
me
a du
st b
owl a
nd th
e ce
iling
fan
rhyt
hmof
the
locu
sts t
hat p
ersis
t all
even
ing
the
wea
ther
roils
on
boili
ng h
eat o
r mea
n co
ld
I sm
ell t
ange
rines
and
tast
e w
ater
mel
ons
the
chill
on
my
tong
ue th
e ta
ng in
my
nose
an
d th
e bi
er p
leas
ure
of b
eer
and
the
rock
ing
of a
chi
ldra
pid
and
acce
lera
ng
stea
dy a
nd m
onot
onou
san
d w
ithou
t com
fort
fran
c a
nd c
licki
ng a
nd c
lack
ing
Phili
ppe
Shils
alon
e w
ith m
y da
ught
er in
the
hous
e
whe
n th
ere
are
leav
es
shim
mer
ing
she
igno
res m
epr
eocc
upie
d.
at th
e w
indo
w
in th
e be
droo
m
the
clos
est s
he’ll
get
to a
tree
hou
se
i hav
e to
get
in h
er fa
ceto
get
a sm
ile.
the
win
ter s
now
is so
met
hing
to lo
ok
forw
ard
to.
we’
ll be
bur
ied
in th
e ne
utra
l lig
ht.
So ri
ght n
ow a
s I d
rive
byI d
rive
by a
ll th
ose
days
th
at a
ctua
lly d
id n
ot m
a e
r.Th
e ho
use
is no
w a
nd w
ill a
lway
sst
and
in th
e di
stan
ce.
The fi e
ld in
fron
t of i
t is e
mpt
y ex
cept
for b
irds r
ising
up
li le
wor
ms o
f mem
ory—
danc
ing
your
life
, the
clo
set,
hats
an
d gl
oves
, bab
y te
eth
and
love
le e
rs,
abov
e th
e bl
ack
dres
s with
the
brea
thy
edge
s he
like
d so
muc
h—its
twirl
ing
now
gon
e—
I s ll
see
it ha
ng th
ere
like
a su
icid
al w
ish.
J. S.
Bel
ote
Whi
te R
oom
T
houg
hnu
mer
ous
the
leav
eslin
ed w
ith w
hite
a
re n
ot e
noug
hto
cut
the
dark
f
rom
them
& so
on
ly se
em
the
stup
ida
ert
houg
ht o
f moo
n
th
at is
the
a e
rtho
ught
of s
unth
at is
t
he fr
eckl
es o
n m
y ar
mI h
aul
fro
m c
hild
hood
.
From
Rho
de Is
land
w
hen
I hel
da
conc
h sh
ell
to
my
ear
& ig
nore
d th
e oc
ean
& li
sten
ed fo
r
the
loud
ness
that
live
d in
me
& d
id n
ot so
und
lik
e m
eor
the
hear
tbea
tof
thud
ding
app
les
in th
e or
char
dth
e m
orni
ng
wou
ld re
veal
thro
ugh
the
num
erou
s lea
ves
& fo
g
Dian
a Re
aves
Teet
h an
d Fe
athe
rs M
y gr
andf
athe
r dra
nk h
alf a
bo
le o
f Jac
k Da
niel
’sth
e da
y he
had
all
his t
op te
eth
pulle
d.Th
e ne
xt w
eek
he d
rank
the
othe
r hal
f, ha
d hi
s bo
om
te
eth
pulle
d.He
nev
er g
ot d
entu
res,
and
the
man
cou
ld e
at a
car
rot.
Whe
n he
die
d, y
ou c
ould
see
whi
te b
enea
th h
is th
in g
ums.
I’d n
ever
thou
ght a
bout
the
bone
ther
e, o
r his
mac
awsh
ellin
g pe
anut
s for
him
in th
e ev
enin
gs, r
emin
ding
him
John
ny C
arso
n’s o
n, P
a,he
r cry
and
her
shril
l, bl
ue w
ings
spre
adin
gev
en a
er h
e’d
gone
.
Dian
a Re
aves
A M
othe
r Con
fess
ing
I was
wro
ng w
hen
I sai
d yo
ur v
oice
car
ried
me
away
. List
enin
g to
you
was
not
hing
like
trav
el,
noth
ing
like
ge n
g lo
st. T
hose
mor
ning
s as y
ou sa
ngW
hat l
angu
age
shal
l I b
orro
w to
than
k Th
ee…
? I i
mag
ined
you
ther
e at
the
pian
o re
ci n
gdi
rec
ons
to a
war
m b
lue
lake
.Bu
t I n
ever
wan
ted
to g
o.N
ow I
see
your
voi
ce in
stea
das
han
ds th
at h
eld
me
whe
re I
stoo
d rin
sing
the
brea
kfas
t dish
es, y
our s
ong
a co
ld ri
vule
t, I’l
l say
, with
a g
ray
cran
e,so
and
uns
ure.
& It
’s al
l so
unim
port
ant n
ow.
So u
nim
port
ant.
Th
is w
indo
w&
the
dull
eart
h
of w
ind
& le
aves
it gi
ves y
ou.
T
his w
hite
room
yo
u tu
rn b
ack
to
with
not
hing
in it
b
ut a
pia
noyo
u w
ould
pla
y m
adly
If it
was
not
miss
ing
m
ost
of it
s key
s
& o
n fi r
e—
fi llin
g yo
ur lu
ngs
w
ith th
e bl
ack
mus
ic th
at w
ill c
onsu
me
you.
Rand
olph
Brid
gem
an
rv g
uy
he b
ough
t a u
sed
1976
bre
ak-w
ind
w
ith sh
ag c
arpe
ng
and
woo
d pa
nelin
g th
at re
sem
bles
the
insid
e of
ev
ery
best
wes
tern
hot
el ro
omth
at h
e’d
take
n hi
s fam
ily to
on
eve
ry v
aca
on
they
’d e
ver h
adth
e ho
meo
wne
rs a
ssoc
ia o
n te
lls h
im h
e ca
n’t p
ark
it in
his
own
dr
ivew
ay w
hich
he
does
any
way
ju
st to
piss
off
the
neig
hbor
sbe
caus
e th
is is
amer
ica
godd
amn
itan
d it’
s his
prop
erty
and
it’s h
is RV
ev
en th
ough
it’s
as ta
cky
as la
st y
ear’s
vaca
on
pict
ures
that
he
post
ed
on fa
cebo
ok o
f it p
arke
d in
fron
t of
the
gas s
ta o
n m
ade
of h
ub c
aps
or a
laba
ma’
s wor
lds l
arge
st o
pen
air fl
ea
mar
ket
or ra
lph’
s roc
ky m
ount
ain
oyst
eran
d co
rn d
og e
mpo
rium
but t
his y
ear b
ecau
se o
f the
risin
g co
st o
f gas
and
bec
ause
he’
s the
che
apes
tfu
ck i’
ve e
ver k
now
n
he p
acke
d up
the
fam
ily a
nd d
rove
al
l the
way
acr
oss t
own
to th
e su
per w
alm
art
whe
re h
e se
t up
cam
p in
the
park
ing
lot
and
spen
t his
days
shop
ping
at r
oss’
or p
ick
and
pay
or ri
ck’s
barg
ain
barn
and
his n
ight
s on
top
of h
is RV
in
a la
wn
chai
r with
a b
udw
eise
r m
akin
g fu
n of
the
redn
ecks
Jam
es B
. Nic
ola
You
see
You
see,
that
day
was
a b
eade
d cu
rtai
nto
a b
ack
room
whe
re y
ou c
ould
not
go
not t
hen
not t
hen.
Thou
gh I
had
been
you
hadn
’tan
d I w
asn’
t abo
ut to
dra
g yo
uno
r lea
ve y
ou th
ere
in th
e fr
ont r
oom
with
out m
eno
t the
n. Al
l I c
ould
do
was
tell
you
that
that
’s w
here
I’d
like
to g
ow
ith y
ou w
ith y
ouan
d le
t you
thin
k ab
out i
t aw
hile
so th
at m
aybe
you
’ll ta
ke m
y ha
ndor
touc
h m
y ro
belik
e Sc
roog
e to
Chr
istm
as N
ow an
d w
e’ll
goto
geth
erto
the
dark
bac
k ro
omon
e da
yan
d fl y
like
The
Pres
ent
and
see
clea
rer
all t
hrou
gh th
e ni
ght.
Kath
erin
e M
itche
ll
Your
Hou
se
Hunc
hed
leav
es fl
yac
ross
the
line
of b
ird tr
acks
in
snow
.
I sta
nd o
utsid
e th
e w
indo
ww
ishin
g yo
u w
ould
all
com
e ba
ck.
No
one
care
d if
the
rent
ed
mov
ies w
ere
good
.W
e ha
d th
e hu
mpi
ng d
og st
ory
and
the
back
less
dre
ss st
ory.
I ste
p in
clo
ser.
The
furn
iture
is c
over
ed w
ith sh
eets
like
ghos
ts p
layi
ng tw
ister
. Yo
ur d
arkr
oom
s ll
set u
pin
the
back
hal
lway
.
You
mad
e a
rare
prin
t,yo
ur so
n’s f
ace
unde
r a c
loth
in th
e co
rner
of t
he fr
ame.
His h
and
outs
ide
the
fabr
ic h
oldi
ng it
taut
, th
e su
rfac
e pa
le a
nd g
rain
ylik
e an
alm
ost e
mpt
y be
ach.
Rand
olph
Brid
gem
an
why
he
don’
t fl ip
peo
ple
off a
nym
ore
she
kept
her
righ
t tur
n sig
nal o
n fo
r 6 m
iles
befo
re h
e pu
lled
arou
nd h
erst
retc
hed
acro
ss th
e fr
ont s
eat t
o ro
ll do
wn
the
pass
enge
r win
dow
so th
at h
e co
uld
fl ip
her o
ff pr
oper
ly w
hen
his h
and
slipp
ed off
of th
e w
indo
w c
rank
and
his h
ead
got s
tuck
bet
wee
nth
e pa
ssen
ger s
eat a
nd th
e do
orfr
ame
by th
e m
e he
’d g
o e
n hi
s hea
d lo
ose
he’d
lost
con
trol
of t
he c
aran
d in
his
a e
mpt
to c
orre
cthe
ove
r cor
rect
edcr
ossin
g th
e m
ediu
m a
nd th
ree
lane
sof
traffi
c b
efor
e pl
owin
g in
toa
bob’
s big
boy
sign
that
fat r
ed h
eade
d bu
rger
ea
ng
fuck
erw
ith th
e st
upid
ass
grin
cam
e off
tha
t pol
elik
e an
oly
mpi
c di
ver i
n a
perfe
ct o
nean
d a
half
gain
er w
ith a
twist
and
crus
hed
the
top
of h
is ca
rso
that
it to
ok th
e m
arip
osa
coun
tyem
erge
ncy
resp
onse
team
four
and
a ha
lf ho
urs a
nd th
e ja
ws o
f life
to c
ut h
is du
mba
ss o
utth
en th
ey c
harg
ed h
im $
8,00
0 w
hich
caus
ed h
im to
get
beh
ind
so th
eyfo
recl
osed
on
his h
ouse
repo
sses
sed
his w
ife’s
car
so sh
e le
him
and
took
the
kids
beca
use
this
was
just
one
mor
eth
ing
in a
long
list
of s
tupi
d sh
itth
at h
e’d
done
Kath
y Da
vis
No
Rain
for a
Spe
ll
I kno
w h
e’s c
omin
g, th
e m
an w
ith th
e tr
acto
r,so
man
y fi e
lds a
roun
d m
e ha
rves
ted
alre
ady.
Flo
wer
hea
ds c
lose
to b
urs
ng
on th
e m
othy
out b
ack,
and
her
e an
d th
ere
the
reac
h of
pur
ple
clov
er, d
ande
lion.
Som
e m
es h
e cu
ts
the
crop
at n
ight
, hea
dlig
hts r
ude
thro
ugh
the
bedr
oom
win
dow
. The
bla
de a
nd ra
kela
ying
dow
n ro
w a
er r
ow w
hile
I a
em
ptto
slee
p. F
ield
mic
e an
d ne
s n
g bi
rds i
n fl i
ght,
and
you
by m
y sid
e, d
ream
ing
undi
stur
bed.
He
is ta
king
, you
wou
ld sa
y,w
hat’s
his.
The
hay
le f
or d
ays t
o dr
ybe
fore
it’s
bale
d an
d ha
uled
aw
ay. H
orse
sbe
ndin
g in
thei
r sta
lls to
feed
. I k
now
a w
oman
who
gat
hers
sum
mer
wee
ds, w
eave
s the
m
into
bun
dles
with
bu
ons
, nee
dle,
thre
ad. W
inte
r,w
hen
the
mus
e lu
rks i
n po
d an
d ro
ot,
she
pres
ses p
igm
ent f
rom
the
rem
nant
s,
brus
hes t
he m
eado
w o
nto
shee
ts o
f hom
emad
eEn
glish
ivy
pape
r. O
nce
in a
fore
ign
city
,
you
snuc
k us
pas
t an
arm
ored
tank
to re
ach
the
rest
aura
nt in
the
alle
y ju
st b
eyon
d. I
can’
t re
mem
ber w
hat w
e at
e, o
nly
the
war
m b
ienv
enue
of
the
chef
’s em
brac
e, th
e lu
sty
zest
with
whi
ch h
e de
liver
ed fo
od, p
late
s lad
dere
d
up h
is ar
ms,
the
soun
d of
silv
er sc
rapi
ng d
ishas
we
took
in w
hat h
e ha
d to
giv
e.
Chris
en
Gho
lson
Ever
y tr
ee is
so ly
falli
ng
A
trou
t lea
ps th
ree
feet
into
the
air,
burie
s its
elf
in
circ
le a
er c
ircle
, fol
ding
this
old
min
ing
tow
n
into
the
past
. Bui
ldin
gs b
lend
into
tree
s.
Your
fi ng
ers
tock
aga
inst
a p
olle
n-fi l
led
pine
con
e. A
bre
ath
of
yel
low
-gre
en sm
oke.
Late
r, ba
ck in
bed
,
ther
e w
as in
term
i en
t rai
n, sl
eep,
th
unde
r in
the
wak
e of
a h
umm
ingb
ird’s
win
gs.
Chris
en
Gho
lson
Dias
pora
Edge
of a
cle
arin
g,
a
lone
milk
wee
d st
alk.
Th
e po
d’s s
o ,
peel
ed b
ark;
four
seed
s s ll
insid
e.
I ope
n m
y ha
nd,
two fl o
at to
war
d cl
iff ro
cks.
Th
en, a
new
des
ire:
I’l
l tak
e th
em w
ith m
e,
rele
ase
the
seed
s on
th
e m
ount
ain’
s wes
t slo
pe.
*
One
land
s am
ong
brus
h.
O
ne tw
ists i
n la
st li
ght.
A
third
rem
ains
s ll
,
thin
king
who
se d
esire
?
Kath
y Da
vis
Ope
n W
ater
They
pus
h on
thro
ugh
the
swel
ls,th
e sw
imm
ers o
ff La
Jolla
.W
e tr
ack
them
, by
the
colo
rs o
f the
ir ca
psto
the
buoy
and
bac
k, c
augh
t up
in th
e ra
ce.
A do
lphi
n le
aps—
as if
we
coul
d fo
rget
w
hat t
eem
s bel
ow th
e su
rfac
e. To
day,
you
clas
ped
my
wris
t, ge
ntly
ov
er c
off e
e an
d to
ld m
e yo
u w
ere
sorr
y. H
arbo
r sea
ls ha
ve c
laim
ed th
e be
ach
at C
hild
ren’
s Poo
l, fo
uled
the
sand
. So
me
view
it a
s a c
rime,
but s
ll th
e to
urist
s com
e.
It’s a
smal
l thi
ng,
wha
t you
hav
e do
ne, a
pe
y g
rieva
nce.
The
swim
mer
s sha
king
off
the
wet
as th
ey e
mer
ge, t
he w
inne
rslin
ing
up.
How
fast
, yes
terd
ay,
we
jour
neye
d ou
t to
see
the
wha
les,
our s
mal
l boa
t buc
king
cho
pas
we
sear
ched
thro
ugh
the
bino
cula
rs
for s
pray
. I
can’
t for
give
you
yet
, th
ere’
s too
muc
hpl
easu
re h
angi
ng in
the
bala
nce.
The
sun
licks
moi
stur
e fr
om th
e br
eeze
and
salts
our
fl es
h—its
hea
t so
sinfu
lly d
elic
ious
.
Jean
nine
Hal
l Gai
ley
The
End
At th
e en
d of
our
stor
y, w
e ro
ll al
ong
with
the
prin
ce’s
proc
essio
n,or
wak
e up
to a
cas
tle fi
lled
with
frie
nds,
thei
r eye
s, to
o, w
ere
puck
erin
g at
the
light
.It
neve
r occ
urs t
o us
to fl
ee o
ur fa
tes.
A e
r all,
we
cann
ot sl
eep
fore
ver,
it’s n
ot o
ur ro
le; w
e m
erel
y re
st u
n l
we’
re to
uche
d –
or jo
stle
d –
awak
e by
the
right
man
or m
omen
t. Ho
w c
an w
e la
men
t wha
t we’
ve m
issed
,as
leep
in g
lass
coffi
ns a
nd b
riar-t
horn
ed p
rison
s?W
e’ve
no
ced
no
chan
ge, n
ot th
e w
ayth
e ci
zen
s see
m to
gla
re a
t us a
s we
pass
or th
e pr
ice
of a
pple
s. T
he g
uns t
he m
en c
arry
now
und
er th
eir c
oats
. Eve
n th
e ca
rts
seem
slee
ker,
prep
ared
to b
ustle
us i
nto
the
futu
re.
And
so w
e st
umbl
e in
to n
ew fa
tes,
on fe
et n
ot fa
mili
ar w
ith so
lid g
roun
d,s
ll w
ai n
g fo
r pill
ow m
arks
to fa
de fr
om o
ur fa
ces.
Gro
ggily
, we
turn
to th
e na
rrat
or fo
r dire
c o
n:a
er a
ll, a
ll ou
r liv
es w
e’ve
bee
n po
sing
for s
omeo
ne o
r oth
er. C
urta
in c
alle
d, w
e bo
w o
utan
d tr
y to
mak
e ou
r exi
ts g
race
ful.
It’s w
hat o
ur m
othe
rsw
ould
hav
e w
ante
d, th
eir v
oice
s ech
o:Tr
y no
t to
expe
ct to
o m
uch
mag
ic.
Jean
nine
Hal
l Gai
ley
Thin
gs I
Lear
ned
in W
ai n
g Ro
oms
That
we
are
like
anim
als:
we
like
to si
t alo
new
ith o
ur il
lnes
s, w
e w
ill se
ek o
ut th
e ch
air
in th
e co
rner
, or t
he b
ench
by
the
door
.Th
e sic
k ha
ve th
is in
com
mon
. Th
at o
ur a
nim
al p
arts
can
cha
nge
for n
o re
ason
–on
e w
oman
’s an
kles
swel
l out
of t
enni
s sho
es,
one
man
’s ar
m b
urst
s with
red
vein
s.He
arts
and
sple
ens w
ill b
e th
umpe
d fo
r size
like
li le
ro e
n m
elon
s. Th
at w
e pu
t our
selv
es in
the
hand
sof
oth
er a
nim
als,
not
ang
els,
that
occ
asio
nally
som
eone
in a
whe
elch
air
is fo
rgo
en,
unc
onsc
ious
, in
a ba
ck h
allw
ay.
That
som
e w
ards
are
lit w
ith p
ain
ngs
of fo
rest
s, a
nd th
at b
irdso
ng p
iped
inso
unds
alm
ost c
heer
ful.
Lolli
pops
in g
i sh
ops,
cer
amic
ki
ens.
That
wom
en c
an b
e ca
refu
lw
ith th
eir n
eedl
es o
n th
e ar
ms
of th
in c
hild
ren
and
the
elde
rly.
That
we
are fi n
ite –
that
eve
n th
e yo
ung
grow
relig
ious
whe
n fa
cing
the
dim
med
ligh
t,dr
awin
g pi
ctur
es o
f Jes
us, h
aloe
s of y
ello
w c
rayo
n. Th
at w
e ar
e no
t god
s,th
ough
we
may
sail
ahea
d of
our
bod
ies,
smili
ng, a
s if w
e w
ere.