Distance.26

There’s one road in, a blinking red light, and the same road out of town again.
It’s the locus of local government and the only incorporated municipality in the county.
A sign at the edge of town promotes the local motto—“We love God, family, and country.

Trisha takes a break from work—at home, in her own safe place.
She meets with me outside her home, in my camper trailer.
She calls it cozy and homey.

The locals used to say that when you float down the north river, the sea spirits would j…
That if you were a good lad, built a solid foundation, a life of marble and jewels, you'…
If you were twisted, a lost soul with a few too many screws loose, then you'd breeze by …

for Niloofar and Philip
the mirrored morning
pushes out

the floorboards don’t creak
twenty press-ups on the rug
sometimes