Buhl, Cindy M.

It Was the Damn Pig

1. and the heat.
2.  
3. Running after the damn pig
4. in the damn August heat
5.  
6. Over and over, in circles, running
7. in the damn heat after the damn pig
8.  
9. Corner him into the pickup, chase him
10. to slaughter, up the ramp to the back
11.  
12. Of the rusty red pickup, but he kept running
13. in circles, damn fast, corner to corner,
14.  
15. In his damn sty, next to the barn, on the hill
16. behind the house, in the prickly, dry grass
17.  
18. In the damn August heat, all four of us running,
19. me, my brother, my dad and the damn pig
20.  
21. Hearts pounding, throats croaking, sweating like
22. pigs, pig squealing, a frenzied dervish,
23.  
24. Anger building, blood beating, squeals piercing,
25. hearing only the swearing, the squealing,
26.  
27. When the damn pig sprinted up the damn ramp
28. into the back of the faded red pickup.
29.  
30. Dad slammed the tailgate shut, locked it, triumphant,
31. sweat pouring, breathing deep, breathing dust,
32.  
33. Breathing heat, the pig heaving, heaving grunts,
34. breath slowing, limbs shaking, heart squeezing,
35.  
36. Daddy sliding, slowly sitting, sitting on the footrest, slowly
37. pillowing, head on crossed arms, pleading rest,
38.  
39. For just a minute, eyes closing, an eternal minute, silent
40. in the damn August heat, against the rusty red pickup
41.  
42. with the damn pig.