Red Springs

At the edge of the front

the evening sky is the color

of a southwestern motif: a vase in pastels with a painting of a pueblo

and a kokopelli in relief.

Going through Red Springs

seems the people here

can walk out their doors and look giants in the eye

can try to hit each one in a row with a stone

can know the names of every color of pink

can drive for hours and not meet a neighbor

can stand in a field covered in clay

and never be struck by lightning.