Burro shod, last chore
       put away rasp, hammer, and curved nails,
open the gate;

neighbor ranch hands arrive
for dominoes in the cottonwood shade,

border collie pants, resting, alert,
        snaps at bugs,

boy cleans long channel catfish
       caught from the stock tank,

fat mamasita flips flour tortillas
       on tempered griddle,
stacks them up - wraps 'em
       in cotton cloth,

daughter brings iced tea,

grackle pecks at shiny hubcap,

mother goat licks the afterbirth
       from her newborn,

Domino!


© Carlton Godbold 1987

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