“Sowing corn in the wavery heat”

by Jennifer Smith & April Register

Sowing corn in the wavery heat

In the quicking dust

A grape car shows in the peeps

The car stops in the lacy shade of a magnolia

Suddenly, two men burst like a storm through the screen door

One waves a silver plated pistol and his buddy bandies his arms

Ain't y'all gone ask us to eat?

Y'all better mind out

Mama don't allow no roughhousing at the supper table

Then in a flash of metal

The room blooms dark

Y'all better just hold it fellows

Mama don't shoot'em yet

Y'all gone call the law?

I ain't had much luck with the law

Go on and step on over in the well now

Jump in?

Spiraling down through the abyss of their screams rising up

Double thoomps and dry ratting

Ain't no water in here

Go call the sheriff and tell him we got'em