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he mows the grass
avoids the rocks
the ditch near the mailbox
and the heat turned off
the air conditioner
all the windows are open
mosquitos hovering against the screen
he wipes his head with a bandana
red
that’s in his pocket
there’s a hole
so the color shows through
even when it’s still away
his wife is on the porch
with a book and headphones in
a hat tucking away the hair
she says
“nobody should see”
he turns the lawnmower off
it sputters three times
then coughs and is dormant
in the garage
he goes around the house
careful not to track dirt inside
approaches his wife
his stomach and arms
are covered in grass and dirt
he kisses her forehead
and she pushes - places her hand
against his chest
he goes inside