Fence Down

Kurtle and his kid brother are havin’ a time, 

and drive that sorry old truck

right through a wire gap like it ain’t even there.

It tears the truck up somethin’ awful.

It ain’t so much that
as they catch a wire on the bumper, and drunk as they are

take out a quarter mile

of four-strand barb-wire and steel posts.

The whole mess is trailin’ behind

and neither of ’em know it

’til the weight of all them posts and wire 

tears the bumper half off throwin’ the truck sideways in a ditch.

Goddamn says Kurtle, and goddamn says his kid brother.

That about sums it up.

—

In a Ditch

Kurtle and his kid brother
put their truck in a ditch, again.
We’ve been runnin’ together a long time,

and I ain’t bein’ holier than thou,

but damn he don’t ever learn.

The front end’s tore up, and he’s havin’ to drive

his mother’s Crown Vic.

If that ain’t enough to teach him,
and I don’t suppose it is, then I reckon he’s past hope.

On top of that, Kurtle’s kid brother’s

gettin’ a reputation

he don’t deserve and sure don’t need.

Regina says he’s bein’ led astray.

That about sums it up.