Friday, September 14, 2007

The Big Lonely


Why is it that
A hundred sections of rock and grass
With absolutely nobody on it
Except you, a horse, and some scattered cattle

Is never lonesome
And sounds like paradise,

But a trailer house
In town, full of closed-in kids
Too many neighbors and too much noise

Is more . . . lonely
Than anything I've ever known?

Ah . . . it is indeed a tragedy
To contain so much open space
In one misplaced
Soul.

What I need is a back-country coyote pair
Just outside
"Go to it, folks"
Drown out the town dogs and . . .

Howl one for me.