“South of the House”

by Candice D. Floyd & Candice J. Boone

South of the House

A young man's arm

hangs from the driver's window

He has black sideburns

and a pale peened face

South of the house

the man in the hat shambles

The smothery smell of cooking tobacco

drifts from the tarpapered barn

South of the house

Mounds of sheeted tobacco are stacked high

South of the house

He flattens himself on the rim like a lizard

leaning against the kitchen door

South of the house

With his breasts freely jutted

And yellow egg mingle

Drizzling down his jeans