red booth
review

A "For Sale" sign on the lawn.
The morning paper. The front
stoop. Ritz crackers and golden 
cheddar cheese on a white plate. 
Cauliflower in the garden. Kids 
chasing an ice cream truck. Your 
painted handprint on art paper.
A fresh pair of pajamas on the
bed. Whiskey breath. Contact lens.
A motorcycle but no helmet. One
false I.D. Two telephone poles.
The emergency room of a hospital.
A jailhouse directly across from
the school. Puppies willing to
lick your hand. A soft pack of
cigarettes. A jet plane heading
west. High hedges that divide
the property line. A row of rusty
garbage cans. The hum of an attic
fan. Fingers drumming a table. 
Moonlight moving over the carpet. 
Dreams on a tiny scrap of paper.

 - Maurice Oliver