His Place

He is on his riding mower. He looks like me, only he owns a rich man's house, a garden measured in acres - his skin is better. No picket fences: this is upscale America. Long drives and old stone walls; gated. A cultural dream pioneering into new luxury, the way covered wagons once did, canvas closed, oxen quietly moving on into territory that's hard to imagine. I see him standing near his wide columned front door, he is smiling the way I smile when I think no one is looking. I like him, and imagine his beautiful wife in my arms. He left the wagon train, to strike out on his own. They found the green valley, gold seams under their feet, and the land already posted, to keep others out.