tia laughing near the clotheslines
half her face was smile
her skin dark on thin limbs
black hair sprinkled with flyaway grays
the smell of grass and honeysuckle
already smoked pot
already drunk beer
warm sunshine everywhere
June bugs buzzing
the water in the ditch trickling past
birds singing
kids crossing the highway to get
peanuts poured into glass coke bottles
salty and sweet
crossing the highway together
to get back to the house
where the knife cut the door
duck tape hiding the gashes
no one speaking of it then
everyone lived quiet
listening to the water trickling
birds singing
June bugs buzzing
all the grace 