970

desert blood
desert sand
crept out
from the hood
of her mamma’s car
onto the parking lot
formed a map
of a great earth

we stood in wonder
afraid we woke some beast
some creature previously dormant
in the heart of her beat up
station wagon

we waited until the sun
slept

the priest showed up
with a bible
and a scroll
he normally has locked
in a glass display case

her mamma said the lord
was her compass
for the sprawling mass of sand
at our feet

I didn’t laugh

I was curious as the next man
to wonder where it all came from

the priest took a flask
from his corduroy jacket
and offered it to us
the kids old enough
to drink
and know not to cough
from hard liquor

we refused

he stared at his feet
until the crickets
were droned out by our heartbeats
all too afraid to ask
if we found a devil
in the stupidest of places

when the third hour passed
and her mamma was getting a chill
I asked if he was about done
he coughed into his hand
and asked if I would
move the family
from the car
I obliged
I walked them some paces away

when I came back
the priest was pissing
onto the sand and laughing