James Babbs- Three Poems

Wyoming

something tells me

I’m not in Kansas

anymore

I’ve never been there and

probably

won’t be going

any time soon

but I’ve been thinking about Omaha

because

I like the way it sounds

or maybe

some place in Wyoming

I’ve read some statistics and

there aren’t a lot of people there

and I find that really appealing

endless miles stretching between

you and your neighbors

I’d never have to see anyone

if I didn’t want to

like right now

how I’m down in the basement

sitting back in the corner

far away from the stairs

Now

when I fell from

the arms of love

I remember

how terrible it felt

my body hitting the ground and

how I didn’t want to get up

I just stayed down there

probably

longer than I should have

the wind and the rain

all the time

against my skin and

I kept my eyes closed

until I sensed the light again

when I opened them

the sun was out

bright and happy in the sky

it felt warm and

when I looked around

I saw all the things

I had seen before

all of them were there

but they all looked different

now

Hailey

Hailey

the girl working the register

isn’t old enough to

scan my case of beer

she sets it on the floor

before ringing up

my other groceries

she smiles and tells me

it’ll be just a minute

for someone to come and

ring up my alcohol

that’s what she calls it

before she asks me

how I’m doing and

I tell her

it’s hot out there and

she agrees with me

says something about

how we really need some rain

I say yeah

it’s getting pretty dry

then the cashier manager

or whatever she’s called

comes over and

scans my case of beer

Hailey

gives me my receipt

she smiles and tells me

have a nice day and

before I walk away

I say

I’m certainly going to try