—AIN’T IT FUNNY HOW SOME PEOPLE POP INTO YOUR HEAD SO EASILY?

                                                  root cellar

come look at this the dumb shit trying to clean his teeth with a string mom says to dad when i’m on first break from college it’s called floss i say it’s called stupid mom says our trailer smells like a cremation urn even in early morning cigarette smoke clings to the spackled ceiling like the robes of ghosts trying to escape what did you say mom asks ghosts i say he’s being a smart ass again you should set him straight dad looks like a tired moose jowly his face dragging itself a few gray days from death but he says come on and i follow outside up the slope where he opens the root cellar door that creaks like bones about to snap and as i step inside the heavy smell of earth and rotting potatoes washes my face why can’t you keep your mouth shut for once dad asks closing the door behind me locking it the day at once turned to night