Stirring
waist deep in dirt
neon vested
they shovel
holes
along a busy street
where the police
enforce the speed
at 30 mph
and on another street
there’s a guy
cowboy hat
on his head
cigarette
hanging outta his crook
waiting for his ride
or his bride
or something
and the billboard sign
depicts a fake fiesta
people not as they are
but as they wish they were
and a granny
in her zip-up robe
pushes her can
down the drive
and a guy
in a T-shirt and jeans
hauls lumber
on his shoulder
and a woman
with her bag
is headed to market
on foot
and the “Arbor Day” banner
is bouncing
off the wind
and the girl
at the desk
is wasting
her smile
on me
should be
gracing a magazine
and the specials of the day
are taking way
before the hungry herd
descends
and for a few
morning moments
before
they assume
their 8-hour position
they’re free
encapsulated in their cars
surging from a song
a wake-up cup
a cellular itinerary
FM news
or scattered thoughts
and the sun
is headed straight up
Central Standard Time
TL