Byways in Wisconsin
I
The friend in the deli
of the Piggly Wiggly
in Lodi show me her nails
strikes up conversations
when I come back to town
for a second week of work.
I tell her about the work
on utility lines on county roads
where I control traffic
and the beauty of the countryside.
She tells me about her daughter
two years old who brings joy
and says she’s finding her life
as we share stories every day.
time shared day after day
the delectable taste
of our conversations
II
The motel clerk near Portage
checks me in for the week.
Her black T-shirt says Hot Stuff
and I tease her
and we learn to confide
in each other.
We talk about our losses
and she says her boyfriend
has died from an overdose
and I lend her my understanding.
One night I sit in the lobby
and watch my favorite TV show.
She sits on a chair near me
as if a date as I sink into
the cushions of the couch.
We talk about our futures
as I check out at the end of the week
I say the next I’ll be on another assignment
but we vow to stay in touch.
moments shared
during my stay
my home for the week
.
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