The night dries out in the still hours of the ravine.
I sit in the kitchen with the lights off and the windows open.
Too late to go to bed.
Too early to get ready for work.
Tracy came over after dinner and said Janet was back in jail.
Skipped on her parole officer and stole some groceries.
We looked at our feet and kicked the gravel for a while.
Someone at work will say they saw this coming.
The alder shadows spread into the cups and bowls.
The houses the outbuildings the barns.
They crouch on their haunches and groan.
They are old men at a funeral waiting to see who will speak first.
Neighbors by Michael McGriff | Sandalwood Poetry Reed Diffuser Set
Michael McGriff is an American poet whose works explores working-class rural life. He is the author of several collections, most recently the book-length poem “Inquest.”
