dried out prairie grass
wiry thin, pressed low
hard hot constant wind
stinging white hot sun
dust-devils lift and die
dead end gravel wash
clay-sand earth giving way
tasting blowing soil
tractor tire shade
smelling oil and dirt
old car raising older dust
two-tracked lane winding
deserted barn and house
cell phone no use here
adjusting hat and boots
one step begs another
silent fields left behind
fences rusted to the ground
gray twisted prairie trees
looking for a far horizon
black clouds of threat
cracked tongues of lightning
thunder mumbling softly
days of empty promises