Dusti Rodes

2014-03-04 12:00 am

A Mid-West Landscape

The white ghetto, at sundown.
Dented jalopies and pick-ups
Returning from the day's work at building sites,
Gas stations,
Burger joints,
Supermarkets.

People climb out,
Carrying bags of groceries,
And cases of beer.
Marijuana smoke drifts through the air.

Heavy metal music, and classic rock,
Is on the radios.
The TV's pump out commercials for heartburn,
And haemorrhoid medications.

Two, stoned, grinning Mexicans,
Drive up and down the rows of trailers
Selling stolen booze and cigarettes.

Sitting on the stoop, dreamily smoking a cigarette,
Watching it all, a lone blonde.
Too short, and needing to lose several pounds.
Stockings, torn and tattered.
Her red-painted lips, turned depressingly down.


Dusti Rodes (2006)