DRY CRIK Journal

Started the fire at 3:15

           Western Livestock Journal
           and broken fencepost
                      split thin redwood kindling,
                      oak and manzanita –

and left upstream
           after spraying weeds all day
           with the Kawasaki Mule

                      feed on one side of the wire,
                      weeds on the other –

to check on the neighbor
just out of the hospital,
           too sore to ‘rock ‘n roll’
           New Year’s Eve.

Shared a glass of whiskey wishes
and listened to the girls talk cattle,
bulls and marbling.

You and I back home alone –
red wine around the fire, meat on
when the moon cleared the saddle
           this side of Sulphur

                      top sirloins,
                      garlic cloves
                                 oiled in tin foil
                      licked by flames

under a remnant storm sheet –
           silver cloud reflection
           aiming higher westerly,

                      big bright moon in the V

           filigreed by silk oak leaves
           dry and hanging like feathers

until the meat was done.