Midwest Life

The heat of the sun chapped
the old black overalls he
wore from tractor to dinner
inside and outside that old
shack across the lawn.

The many trails of manure
and corn, the fast paced
life of the city playing
on his 12-inch TV. Wife
housebound with a bad back.

60 years having known only
the life of shovel handle
and color of the sun
that split hairs on his back
burned trails of hot sweat