THE LONG CUT

Hey Man-

You happen to see that thing?

You had to have passed it between there and here

Two days ago, middle of the day

Hot

Old truck in the church lot- all bed springs and bicycle frames and bits of rebar

A little man draggin' a doe from the ditch

Face and arms so damn dirty it wern't clear if he was black or white or somethin' else

That gray man and that skinny old woman:  All bent up

Shooin' away birds 

You know:  Those birds

Did you see it?

C'mon!  Damn hard to miss, that

So, when did you last get to town?

Guy in front of the liquor store as I went in

Yesterday

Front pockets full of finish nails

I know, 'cause I stopped for a second, watchin' as he drew out palmfuls 

Focused

Pickin' through like he was lookin' for somethin'

Fingers all bloody

I went on in, got me some beers

As I passed, asked if I could help

"No," he said  

"I got a dollar in my shoe"

Did you go past that day?  

I expect he'd been there for a while

You ain't gotta answer  

I get it

Hey Man-

Don't you live out past me?  

You told me once

I remember

Then you know the back way

The "Long Cut"

Bottom of the ramp, very first right

You know it

Don't bullshit me

Then you've seen him:  the guy with the sign 

You know:

Cardboard.  Thick, brown, letters in black majic marker

All lower case, which is stupid

Bettin' he stole that marker  

Duct tape on his shoes

Remember that sign?  What it said?

"insert your favorite form of personal disdain here"

Did you make eye contact?  

That was stupid 

Bettin' now he knows where you live

Figured you to be smarter

And today:

That dog on the side of the road

Just past the spot where the guy stood the day before

Only the regular way, no right turn

Some mixed breed mutt, all bloody

Legs like tobacco stick,s pointin' back toward the paint

Head wrenched 'round, eyes shinin' off into the woods

I seen his collar:  All sparklin', lookin' like diamonds

Shit

No way in Hell you missed that

I had to swerve else I was to hit it

Now, I gotta ask:

Did you come the regular way?  

You did, right?

You saw it, right?  

I already know

Of course you did

I know you did

You stopped, got outta your truck

You looked at the dog, then up and down the road

But you didn't see me

You stole from a dead dog, right?

I know it was you  

No sense in lyin'

Ain't intendin' to tell nobody

But you know I know

Fish~