Country Boy

What is it

John Denver

says about thanking

God he's a country

boy?

Maybe they'd have

something to say

about that,

working the land

When the land

loves you as much

as the people who own it.

And maybe they do,

And you'd know it

more if that thing

called flesh wasn't

always getting in the way.

You suffered hot nights,

and human expulsions,

And a toilet set out

in the middle of the yard,

And a rooster clawing

your face

And a mountain lion

nearly killing you

until your dog saved

You–

like a tale

from all the

fifth grade books

I ever read.

Did you lay

on your back,

to see ceiling?

Was it popcorned

or maybe flat,

or paneled,

and did it

move like a

movie screen,

playing your escape,

breaking free

from one prison,

hopefully never

finding the next?