C1500
By Mark Miner

Black mustache on a brown face
Baseball caps, soiled and stained,
Four men in a five-seat pickup
and a hand reaches out to adjust
what's left of the power mirror.

There's a lawnmower in the back
and a family at home.
Maybe all of their families live on the same street,
and they throw big parties for quínciñieras
shortly before their daughters go away.

But most of them will lend you a hand,
though a few will take with the other,
and they meet at mass on Sunday,
they and the Host, together.
And maybe they've confessed.

The truck disappears soon,
going the other direction on the freeway
to a different suburb
and a different language
and a different life.

 

What did you think of this article?

Liked
Disliked
No Opinion