The Upstate

this is now
the dark underbelly

dogfights in the mountain county where they found the dog beside the road
the edges turning yellow, strain in the house and over it

how could we and survive
living in the place I left by choice
living season when things are decided

learned care / learned care pushed past care

roadside goldenrod
season of contentment / of the beast



Reprinted from The Upstate, published by The University of Chicago Press. All rights reserved.