Prairie Poetry   
  Prairie Phantom
   
 

Trails the wagon
west from Kansas City,
cracking wheel spokes
and splintering axles.

Sits beside the man
on the wagon seat,
repeating, "Only a failure
would journey here."

Pulls the covers
from the infant boy
on a cold night,
bringing pneumonia and death.

Whispers in the ear
of the thin woman
digging his grave,
" Join him."

 
   
  Tom Reynolds
   
  Copyright © 2004 Tom Reynolds
   
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