He Has Buried Too Many Dogs

The old man comes back from the creek bank,
hoses down the Sears shovel, hangs it
by the handle to the shed wall. He climbs
the back steps, wipes his Red Wings on
the rag mat and comes in the kitchen
where she is chopping onions and carrots.
“Y’all done?” she asks into a steaming pot.
“Yes,” He answers, showing her his back
as he heads for the Laz-E-Boy. He
doesn’t turn on the TV. He doesn’t
pick up the Lovely County Citizen
News or that day’s mail. He sits, his hands
in his lap. With one boot tip, he
worries the empty rug at his feet.

***

Wendy Taylor Carlisle lives and writes in the Arkansas Ozarks. She is the author of two books, Reading Berryman to the Dog and Discount Fireworks (both Jacaranda Books) and five chapbooks the most recent, They Went to the Beach to Play, (LoCoFo Chaps, 2017).  Her work has been anthologized in The Poets Grimm, (Storyline Press) and elsewhere and is available online and in print. For more information, check her website www.wendytaylorcarlisle.com.